Trust deficit between leaders and the citizens because of all the lies

There is a growing trust deficit between government leaders of South Africa and many of the citizens.

We cannot trust that the leaders always say what they mean and mean what they say.

They speak in forked tongues and are mostly dishonest in their promises.

When they are in trouble and have been exposed, they use language to cover up.

But as the saying goes “when you know, you know”.

Charles Green, author of The Trusted Advisor, is quoted in a Forbes Women article Why Trust is the New Core Leadership.

Politicians in this country have their own vocabulary, behaviour and mannerism they use when they try to deceive the citizens.

Unfortunately, we see through them. As soon as we hear certain words and statements, we know that we are being lied to.

Statements such as “the law must take its course”; “We are still investigating and the outcome of the will be announced in due course”; “We welcome the court decision, we are still studying the judgment and we will comment in due course”; “Fellow South Africans, I sincerely apologise to the nation, I hope you will find it in your hearts to forgive me.”

We have been told lots of lies over the past 26 years.

While many citizens have praised President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet for their leadership during this Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, and thus assisting the governing party and its leaders to cleanse themselves and earn some legitimacy, there are incidents that keep reminding us that they cannot be fully trusted.

The first issue we cannot let slide is the handling of Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and her disgraced women beater friend Mduduzi Manana’s case of violating lockdown rules.

READ: Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams – the young lion who never grew up

On April 8 President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months.

The presidency then said “the law should take its course”. We are still waiting for that.

Police Minister Bheki Cele, when asked why Ndabeni-Abrahams had not been arrested like all other citizens who have broken the law, dismissed a suggestion that she was getting preferential treatment.

He said the president had instructed the law enforcement agencies to work on the “matter” and the investigating officers had met the minister and are taking the matter forward.

READ: Officers meet with Stella, Public Prosecutor also briefed, says Cele

There seems to be a lot untruths in this “matter” because nothing has happened to her until today.

Meanwhile, the police and the soldiers have arrested hundreds of people and allegedly killed some who breached the lockdown laws.

Entertainer Somizi Mhlongo did so and was released on R1 500 bail after Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula opened a case against for allegedly spreading fake news.

READ: ‘I would have been blamed for unrest in the country’ – Fikile Mbalula

Collins Khosa (40) of Alexandra township died on Good Friday, after soldiers allegedly assaulted him for violating lockdown regulations by drinking alcohol in the yard.

Manana and Ndabeni-Abrahams’s lunch photos showed glasses of wine on the table.

Clearly they also consumed alcohol, which Khosa, Sibusiso Amos, Petrus Miggels, were allegedly killed for because “the law took its course”.

READ: Khosa family hauls state to court for alleged murder of Collins Khosa

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, in an address to the media, spoke with a forked tongue and displayed a manipulative attitude in responding to Khosa’s death. Listening to her, one could tell her message was full of excuses. The apology was neither genuine nor authentic.

More ANC leaders have been implicated in violating lockdown regulations but they have not been punished.

A video of a 39th birthday party hosted by Tebogo Mamorobela, an ANC councillor in Vhembe in the Makhado Local Municipality, also did the rounds on social media last week.

In the video, she is seen showing off bottles of expensive alcohol, and dancing nonchalantly, while mocking Cele.

The ANC in Limpopo suspended her and recommended that she be docked a month’s salary.

She and her friends were arrested, appeared in the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court and were released on R1 000 bail each.

So why hasn’t the same happened to Ndabeni-Abrahams and Manana? Can we trust the president and the police?

Clearly not, because we are obviously not equal before the law. When you know, you know.

* Molatoli is a director at Bamboo Seeds Communications

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