Comic quiz flies a flag

16 April 2014 - 02:01 By Andile Ndlovu
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South African flag. File photo
South African flag. File photo
Image: Gallo Images

There is perhaps no better time to test our patriotism than now, when we have all the noise and anguish over Oscar Pistorius, Shrien Dewani, Nkandla, e-tolls and Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula's utterances on sports team quotas.

Somehow, instead of packing our bags and leaving , we just keep calm and carry on.

With just over three weeks to go until the general elections, e.tv is bringing us a local version of the failed UK game show I Love My Country - complete with vuvuzelas.

Celebrity guests are expected to answer questions such as "How many marulas does it take to intoxicate an African elephant?".

It's all very corny and it will premiere on May 3.

The first episode, which The Times watched being recorded at Sasani Studios in Johannesburg yesterday, features comedians Mark Banks and Tats Nkonzo as team captains.

I Love My Country is hosted by Masechaba Lekalake and the celebrities are Boity Thulo, Joe Mafela, Khanya Mkangisa, Owen Sejake, Bonnie Mbuli and Mandoza.

We asked some of them about their patriotism:

Bonnie Mbuli: "It's a conscious decision to find things that you appreciate. It's realising that you are of no use to a country if you don't love it or its people. I think it's something we're growing into."

Mark Banks: "I'm patriotic because I'm still here, and I could have left many years ago. I'm going to die here - probably next week.

"The people who leave are even more miserable. We must stop sending them Mrs Ball's chutney, Peppermint Crisps and anything that they miss from South Africa."

Tats Nkonzo: "I think we're still too focused on what's wrong.

"South Africa is like that lover that you cannot leave. You love them, but there's so much wrong with them. But you believe that if you stick it out, it will work out."

Boity Thulo: "I don't think we're as patriotic as we should be. We're the most loving and warmest people, as corny as that sounds. We should take pride in that."

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