This is the view from our bedroom window. I am proud of this photo.
Despite both of us working hard—Glen at consulting and me at getting us settled in—we have made a cozy life here in Hyde Park. The house is comfy, we have a small yard and now with pots of herbs and flowers growing. The swanky mall complete with restaurants and cinema is just up the street. We attended to his daughter’s youth orchestra concert on Sunday, are off to a national park for the weekend and have tickets for a play the following weekend. Anyone with money can cocoon here and live the good life.
Then there are the cracks. The political ones.
Glen has been consulting with the Ministry of Higher Education. He is on a Task Team to provide desperately needed reorganization of the South African colleges. This is not the first time this has been attempted, but this time, it looked as if it could really succeed, partly due to the leadership provided by the Director General of the Department with whom he’s been working closely. Let’s call her Mary. Mary is the highest ranking civil servant in the Department and answers directly to the Minister. Let’s call him Blade. Mary works HARD. Calls and emails from her on evenings and weekends are not unusual. Glen responds happily because he holds Mary in such high regard. Not only does she work hard, but she understands the issue to its core and provides great leadership. Glen speaks of her with the greatest respect and admiration.
Sunday morning, Glen received a text saying there was a rumour Mary had been let go by Blade. Today it has been confirmed. Politics are always nasty business, but this is completely disheartening. Glen has been deeply affected and is discouraged.
There was progress. There was hope for finally getting the colleges on track.
Today’s paper says, “The administration has to align itself to the political direction of the government.” It only begs the question of, “Isn’t the political direction of this government education, jobs and prosperity for it’s grossly undereducated and unemployed populace?” Glen’s not a political insider and can only speculate as to the real reason. Does Blade, an ANC and Communist Party stalwart, feel threatened by this brilliant white woman? Or are there simply backroom politics of which we have no idea?
In a country where the President’s theme song is the macho aggressive, Awlethu Mshini Wam, or “Bring Me My Machine Gun”, there is a long way to go before the democratic ideals on which this baby democracy was founded can be achieved.
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