Hogarth: 23 October 2011

Hogarth does not suffer fools lightly and is compulsive reading for the millions of South Africans who share this intolerance.

Loyalty and support repaid with a tongue lashing

DA leader Helen Zille once embarked on an emotional public defence of MP Masizole Mnqasela when he was acquitted on a rape charge that appeared to be a political set-up.

Under the headline "The raping of a reputation", she wrote: "Politics is forbidding terrain. How many people could survive having every detail of their lives publicly scrutinised? What are the implications for one's family?"

Well, this week Mnqasela showed his gratitude by launching an all-out assault on an apparent "obsession with power".

Responding to the candidacy of Zille's favourite, Lindiwe Mazibuko, for the position of parliamentary leader, he said: "I think the endorsement of Lindiwe is based on nothing but obsession with power by those whose appetite is on centralisation of the decisionmaking in the party, whose desire for power supersedes the greater interests of the party." With friends like these ...

Sharp words were exchanged

MNQASELA was not finished, however, and pulled no punches in his observation that Mazibuko was simply not "black enough" for the position: "As for her credentials insofar as appealing to the black populace, she does not have a strong resonance with the black constituencies and it will defeat our objective of trying to attract black votes."

Mazibuko hit back the next day when asked to react : "I'm not engaged in an electoral contest with Masizole Mnqasela, I'm engaged in a contest with Athol Trollip."

Who's the fairest of them all?

MANAGEMENT at Faulty Towers decided to inspire staff loyalty and motivation by giving them each a mirror.

Not just any mirror. Designed to inspire, it bears the words "I am the SABC " around the frame.

Now, mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest broadcaster of all?

The plank is in your eye, sir

PUBLIC Works acting director-general Mandla Mabuza was fuming about reports - based on a report submitted to parliament - that President Zuma's houses and office would be pimped at a cost of R400-million.

Mabuza said he found it "very absurd and ridiculous that some journalist published a grossly and factually inaccurate report". He said he would "investigate" the circumstances that led to parliament being given the wrong information. "I have demanded answers in 48 hours."

You don't have to wait that long, Mr Mabuza. Just walk out of your office and knock on a few doors. After all, the report which you now claim is dodgy was compiled by your staff .

Fighting a lost cause

EVEN as Mabuza was throwing his toys out of the cot, cabinet spokesman Jimmy Manyi was bravely defending the now discredited report as if it were the gospel truth.

"Government rejects suggestions that renovations to official residences and offices of the President of the Republic of SA are an extravagance or that they compromise social delivery ... this work is being done within our means," screamed Manyi in his own statement.

Oh my Godi!

IF you thought Themba Godi's African People's Convention was a one-man show, you were wrong. It seems the lone-ranging parliamentarian is fighting off rivals ahead of his own Mangaung moment next year.

Two members of his party announced on Tuesday that Godi had been suspended from his APC, only for him to laugh it off as a clumsy ousting attempt by chance takers.

"What we had was an amateurish, attempted coup ... I'm firmly rooted until Mangaung," he said. Apparently the APC is also holding a conference there next year.

The local angle

THE tabloid New York Post found a local angle on the killing of Muammar Gaddafi. It ran the headline "Gaddafi killed by Yankee fan" because of the cap worn by one of those around the Libyan dictator as he was shot.

• Write to hogarth@sundaytimes.co.za