STONE AGE:
In the Stone Age a group of cavemen – Brout, Jelk, Dourc, Gnekk, Zuac and Ulran got together and elected a leader, by grunting in the direction of their chosen ‘candidate’, to represent them when it came to matters affecting the group of cavemen.
Cyrerk was duly elected and he dutifully followed the wishes of the tribe in representing their interests when it came to Woolly Mammoth Hunting, Skeleton Clean-ups, Fire making, Water Carrying, Cave Girl Dragging, Sabre Tooth Fighting and other essential services required.
MIDDLE AGES:
Serf Michel, Reeve Remi, Peasant How, Reeve Helyes, Peasant Ricardus, Squire Tankard and Serf Gwatkin got together and, by show of hands, appointed Cyrhoc to represent them and their affairs in the village that they occupied. Cyrhoc immediately demanded that they call him Lord Cyrhoc and each pay him a large portion of their produce as a wage for his troubles.
Lord Cyrhoc went on to become a wealthy man and, by waging war against other villages graduated to becoming a Baron and then a King of the country. Conveniently forgetting the Serfs and Peasants that placed him in the position of Lord in the first place.
AFRICA:
Themba (Hope and trust), Mfanafuthi (It’s a boy again), Ndleleni (On the road), Gabadeli (He who acts with force), Dalingcebo (Founder of wealth), Geza (Handsome young man), Sithembiso (Promise), Njabulo (Joy), Mfundo (Education), Mlungisi (fixer) followed a brave warrior (and illegitimate son of the Zulu King Senzangakona). Shaka and his mother, Nandi, were exiled by Senzangakona, and found refuge with the Mthethwa. Shaka fought as a warrior under Jobe, and then under Jobe’s successor, Dingiswayo, leader of the Mthethwa Paramountcy. When Senzangakona died, Dingiswayo helped Shaka become chief of the Zulu Kingdom. After Dingiswayo’s death at the hands of Zwide, king of the Ndwandwe, around 1818, Shaka assumed leadership of the entire Mthethwa alliance.
Great Wealth, many wives and children accrued to Shaka.
MODERN TIMES:
The individuals in our society now join a larger National Group and locally declare themselves ready to ‘die’ for their followers. Every 5 years or so these ‘brave warriors’ hug and kiss poo nappy babies, listen attentively to the old, the infirm, the young and anyone else who may place a cross next to their name, promise lower taxes, better service delivery, cleaner streets, pothole-less roads, safer communities, no corruption and endless milk and honey.
After being elected our local choices then go on to fight and bicker with local choices from other political parties and THINK that they are doing a good job for their voters by poking fun at the opposition, shouting and swearing, pointing out petty faults and generally tearing down the fabric of society.
My Late Father always used to say; “If you tear down a fellow electrician to the public, you are tearing down the electrical industry, So, DON’T do that!” My Late Grandmother always used to say; “If you point a finger at someone else you always have more fingers on your own hand pointing back at you!”
WE are at fault because WE allowed these local representatives to be paid fat salaries whilst spending more time on staying in power than actually attending to our petty concerns of street lighting that works, secure and safe water supply, reasonable electricity charges, decent refuse removal, tidy public open space, no potholes AND, most importantly, a sense of increased pride of place and love for ourselves, our street, our suburb, our Ward, our City, our Province and our Country!
We went wrong a long time ago and if we do not experience an immediate paradigm shift in how we elect our political leaders we will be left behind as these so called ‘leaders’ trample over us in a rush to keep a seat at the trough!
In the upcoming 2021 Local Elections consider voting for Caveman Cyrerk’s direct descendant – Alan Straton in Ward 7 – and #AimForChange, BUT, in a more modern way!
Alan Straton
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