They trip over their own lies when they answer at all

Has the state of public discourse reached such a dismal stage that politicians and office bearers feel they can blatantly lie or massage the truth without consequence? Take the rhinos, for example.

For months, SANParks has been denying that any of South Africa's rhinos would be sold. Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has tripped over her own words so many times on the subject that you'd think she was stepping into the fire pool at Nkandla. And in July, SANParks chairman Kuseni Dlamini said that a report in this newspaper that Kruger rhinos would be sold were "grossly inaccurate" and "malicious".

And yet, page through your newspaper today and you'll see an advert offering the Kruger rhinos for sale.

Leaving aside the numerous other questions this raises - such as: How is putting rhinos in private hands meant to "ensure the species' survival" when individual owners have a lesser security apparatus than the state? - it focu ses attention on how, in the most benign interpretation, the SANParks top brass got it so wrong.

This week, Dlamini told this newspaper that "relocation is the core of our approach".

But how could such a reversal be possible within such a short space of time, along with no explanation of his previous denials?

It's a similar tale with President Jacob Zuma, who seems to believe it is a legitimate approach to dodge questions that the public has a right to know the answers to.

When it comes to accountability, Zuma represents a low-water mark from which it is truly frightening to imagine a further descent.

Our lily-livered president has not only hung out his foot soldiers to defend the Nkandla debacle, he has also now sidestepped any queries about the mysterious Russian nuclear deal.

Also, as the revelations in this newspaper last week make blindingly clear, Zuma knows far more about the arms deal - the murkiest saga in recent South African history - than he has ever let on.

What has Zuma done in the past week to address these (rather serious) claims about his moral propriety? Nothing. Our president clearly feels he has no obligation to the citizens of the country.

Look across to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, and you'll see the consequences of a blithe disregard for the citizens who pay taxes so that office bearers can do their jobs.

All three cases illustrate the central problem that our worst leaders share: a profound lack of accountability for their decisions, and an unwillingness to be held accountable.