Mbeki

The President of South Africa was forced to resign over the weekend. I didn't hear Mbeki's speech, but I did hear the Secretary General of the ANC make the announcement. He wasn't very convincing. It seemed like he was dodging questions and giving the typical bland responses one expects from a politician. It also seemed like the press corp were not exactly well known within the press conference. Perhaps I've been watching too much West Wing. Perhaps the people involved were simply not used to calling on the press. But surely asking 'the guy in the orange t-shirt after the lady over there' is not the most professional manner in which to address the press. Moreover it shows that hte moderator was really not sure over who she was giving the microphone too - actually the sound quality was so appalling I don't think there were microphones. I didn't hear any foreign press either, but that could be due to the lack of microphones. Surely it is sensible for government to be aware of who they are giving voice to - not in order to control it necessarily, although that certainly happens, but because being aware of who is speaking because they represent, or claim to in any case, the public sphere and the people in all their diversity within that sphere.
The press here, it seems, tend to speak in the same direction - they don't all say the same thing - but diversity of opinion and a good old fashioned dust-up between different perspectives within the fourth estate doesn't seem to occur regularly.
Anyway, the President has been recalled and so now we can expect a new one to be appointed over the next few days. Interesting times - a Chinese curse.
On a happier note, it's Heritage Day tomorrow - no one seems to know what that's all about but it scores me a day off so yay! Then the Brotherus Minimus' birthday on the 25th! Hurrah!