It was a good week
In my line of work, you tend to focus a lot on the darker or more negative side of things. It is rare for me to walk into a boardroom and say to the executives: “Good news guys, [it is often just guys] all is going swell in the field of politics.”
However, last week there were a couple of stories that made me happy.
On Wednesday, Zoliswa Gidi-Dyosi, a nurse at Khayelitsha Hospital was the first person in South Africa to be vaccinated against Covid 19. She sat quietly as a fellow health care worker administrated the vaccine. Then, as the needle was taken out of her arm, Zoliswa gave a smile and it was obvious, it was a smile of huge relief. I’m sure, that unlike the President, she wasn’t nervous about the needle. I am convinced that the smile spoke of the huge relief she must have felt knowing that she finally might have some form of protection against this awful virus while she cares for those who are sick from it.
As I watched Zoliswa get up and wave at the cameras, I teared up. It is almost a year since the first case of Covid was announced in South Africa and it has been a horrible year for everyone. So many people got sick from the virus and thousands have died. Economically we have all been taking strain and nothing seems normal anymore. Every social engagement or visit to the shops holds a potential death sentence.
Yet seeing Zoliswa’s smile, I suddenly felt hope. Hope that there is light at the end of this tunnel and that we might dare to believe that things could return to some sense of normal in a few months from now.
It was a good day.
Two days later, I watched the circus outside the court in Bloemfontein where Ace Magashule and his co-accused had to make their next appearances. It is not that I find joy in the troubles of any person, yet it felt good.
To me, it proved that - whatever the outcome of the case - the fight back against corruption is truly underway.
There are no longer any holy (political) cows. Magashule is, after all, the second most powerful political operative in the country (after the President). Yes, we have a Deputy President and an ANC chairperson, but as secretary-general of the governing party, his influence and power extend beyond any of these (largely symbolic) positions. A mere three years ago, the idea of any senior political office bearer being prosecuted was almost unthinkable. So, this is big progress.
There was also a bit of entertainment. I watched as people toyi-toyied and danced in water fountains. I giggled as one of the ANC guys dressed in combat fatigues did an impressive set of rolling maneuvers which - as someone said on Twitter - not even my Pilates instructor could manage.
Then, I nearly fell off my chair laughing at an interview a SABC reporter did with one of the people bussed in to support Ace. “We want them to tell us what he did wrong? WHAT HAS HE DONE WRONG?” the very irate young man repeated over and over again. “But they are telling you,” responded the SABC reporter. “What?” asked the young man. “They are saying that more than R250 million was taken from this province” responded the reporter. The young man listened intently and then started nodding. “Ah yes, we know about that, it is not the first time…we know Ace is corruption...”
As the saying goes: With friends like these, you don’t need enemies.
Amusing incidents aside, it was a good day for the people of South Africa, who might just start to believe that justice could prevail.
The other story that made me really happy came from further afield. Last Thursday, Jacinda Ardern announced that they will make menstrual products for students free. The incentive is aimed at reducing the number of days girls and young women miss school and tertiary education because they can’t afford sanitary products. Pads and tampons will be made available for girls from primary school and will continue until university.
I am a big fan of Jacinda Ardern and with this move, she just grew in my estimation.
UNICEF says that 1 out of 10 girls will miss up to 10% of their school career due to a lack of access or being able to afford sanitary products. This is true even in New Zealand and it is also true in South Africa.
So, it is a good day when a woman in power uses her influence to spend state resources in a way that is a true investment not only in the education of more than 50% of its population but also in the country’s future.
Maybe, just maybe, one day our country will follow suit.
There is a lot to be negative about in the world and I deal with this on a daily basis. But on the odd occasion, some things happen that allow one to feel a bit hopeful again and to say: “This was a good week!”