We had quite a scare on the train today; I must tell you about it! We made an unscheduled stop in Ingquza Hill, Sicelo Shiceka's home town, to allow Mr Shiceka to check on the progress of his mansion... I mean, to check on the progress of his road... I mean the public road built for everyone that happens to run past his house. Sheesh, it's better than the excuse he gave to visit his girlfriend in jail in Switzerland!
As we stopped in the town, the train was surrounded by an angry mob with pitchforks and burning stakes. They were clearly angry about something but were just unable to clearly express their frustration in any civilised manner. We all assumed it was the ANC Youth League returning from Zululand and were about to open the doors to let them on when they started chanting for mr Shiceko's head on a stick. It's fair to say we were all a little surprised at that point - we know Julius and co can be a little unpredictable at times but this was going overboard.
Their leader then approached the train and repeated his call for a Shiceka skewer. We then realized these were the local peasants. And they were revolting!? I mean, this is the 21st century, not the Dark Ages. Although, I must admit, looking out on the village of dirt streets, with no running water or electricity and surrounded by the abject poverty, there was certainly a resemblance.
We tried explaining to them that pre-election promises of houses, roads, electricity and water would be fulfilled eventually – except that the houses were being built, electrified and watered one house at a time. It was just that mr Shiceka’s happened to the first on the list, purely by coincidence of course.
Clearly they were in no mood for rational dialogue and started attacking the train. Bheki Cele came to the rescue and volunteered to try and calm the protestors. He said he would use all his diplomatic skills to ensure that the situation was resolved as quickly as possible and in the most peaceful manner. After the shooting died down and the protestors had fled, we closed the door and the train pulled off, with all on board resolving never to return to this horrible place. Mr Shiceka was welcome to visit as often as he liked but from now on he would have to travel with his VIP protection in his 10-car cavalcade up the road built expressly for the purpose.
Their leader then approached the train and repeated his call for a Shiceka skewer. We then realized these were the local peasants. And they were revolting!? I mean, this is the 21st century, not the Dark Ages. Although, I must admit, looking out on the village of dirt streets, with no running water or electricity and surrounded by the abject poverty, there was certainly a resemblance.
We tried explaining to them that pre-election promises of houses, roads, electricity and water would be fulfilled eventually – except that the houses were being built, electrified and watered one house at a time. It was just that mr Shiceka’s happened to the first on the list, purely by coincidence of course.
Clearly they were in no mood for rational dialogue and started attacking the train. Bheki Cele came to the rescue and volunteered to try and calm the protestors. He said he would use all his diplomatic skills to ensure that the situation was resolved as quickly as possible and in the most peaceful manner. After the shooting died down and the protestors had fled, we closed the door and the train pulled off, with all on board resolving never to return to this horrible place. Mr Shiceka was welcome to visit as often as he liked but from now on he would have to travel with his VIP protection in his 10-car cavalcade up the road built expressly for the purpose.
No comments:
Post a Comment