Good material for satirists as Juju brightens up parliament
PARLIAMENT is a serious place, very grey and a tad dry, but in recent days it has been splashed with bright red and controversy like never before.
Two of South Africa's foremost satirists, puppet Chester Missing and Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout, believe that the shake-up that is the Economic Freedom Fighters will at least make for good TV.
EFF leader Julius Malema and his army will not only hurl insults, but are also likely, according to Missing, to clean out the buffet table before their fellow honourable members can get to it.
Malema was ejected from parliament last week for refusing to withdraw claims he made in his maiden speech that the ANC massacred Marikana mineworkers. His MPs then staged a walkout.
Missing described the atmosphere as both explosive and exciting. "Juju got himself kicked out early the other day. I think it is because he wanted to be the first in line at the buffet," he said.
"It's excellent that someone confront the ANC on Marikana. On the other hand, if Juju is going to start saying the police were killing for Zuma, we all know where this 'kill for Zuma' business started. With him."
Bezuidenhout shot down the public outcry that the EFF was making a mockery of parliament's rules. She also cast doubt that the party would sustain its pro-poor red overalls image.
"The red gash of EFF among the grey opposition benches of Freedom Front Plus, DA and IFP really gives new meaning to the phrase, 'Little Red Riding Hood is now also the Wolf'," Bezuidenhout said.
"Juju is verbal graffiti for things that are usually ... written on toilet doors. If professionals indulge him like a spoilt child, they will lose control. It's up to them."
Malema often complains that the country's economy is in the hands of a white minority – but the satirists believe he has white men controlling his lifestyle, from his suits to his glass of whisky.
"Their names are Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Breitling and Johnny Walker," Missing said. Bezuidenhout said: "Armani is not black. Mercedes is not black. Johnny Walker is not black. Like any stand-up comedian, Juju will have to write some new material soon." - Philani Nombembe
