Such is the level of distrust in the government that the belief that senior political players were behind the weekend break-in at the Chief Justice's office grew faster than the fairy-tale plant in Jack and the Beanstalk.
It's hard to blame those who jumped to conclusions, even those who suggested that the beanstalk was rooted in the Union Buildings. After all, the ANC plot twists have been so surreal, for so long, not even the Brothers Grimm could have concocted them.
Nevertheless, acting police chief Khomotso Phahlane went through the motions yesterday. "Making baseless and unfounded allegations against any individual or leaders in government is not helpful. Casting a shadow of doubt on the capability of the South African Police Service to investigate any crime committed is not assisting," he told a news conference.
The trouble with your rhetoric, Lieutenant-General Phahlane, lies in a cursory but depressing examination of recent history. The woman on whose behalf you are acting, Riah Phiyega, has been suspended for nearly 18 months and labelled a perjurer. Her predecessor, Bheki Cele, was declared "unfit for office" and fired. His predecessor, Jackie Selebi, was jailed for corruption.
As far as the "leaders in government" Phahlane is so keen to defend, the top guy - No 1 - broke his oath of office. His social development minister's reputation is so utterly ruined that defaming her is probably a legal impossibility.
Oddly, the one man who has emerged from the social grants fiasco with his integrity intact, Zane Dangor, was also burgled at the weekend.
You might not be able to join the dots, Lieutenant-General Phahlane, but many of us were mastering that skill around the same time we were reading fairy tales. Which means we also know what happened to the big man at the top of the beanstalk.
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