LETTERS: The Sound of Politics

(sung to the tune of ‘My Favourite Things’ from ‘The Sound of Music’ – with apologies.)

Berets and bellies, wobbling like jellies
red overalls, gumboots, families in cahoots
heh hehs in speeches, cadres like leeches
These are a few of our least favourite things

All talk no action, still voter satisfaction
absent MP’s frisking, money spent on whiskey
hands in the till whilst we pay the bill
These are a few of our least favourite things

SABC broadcasts, Hlaud and foolish upstarts
SAA needing bailouts, Reserve Bank handouts
unauthorised spending, rules always bending
These are a few of our least favourite things

When the voootes count and the peeople sing
then we’ll all deservedly have our favourite thing
– the Deeee Aaaa’s aaaraaab spring
Gordhan’s exposed felons siphoning billions
mayors are changing, Metro seats re-arranging
panic in places, so many red faces
These are now a few of our favourite things

Economy starts growing, jobs then start flowing
education in all places, no children losing faces
people of all colours, prosper, become brothers
These are all of our favourite things
– looong maaaay they laaaast.

When the Rand slides, when the poo flings
when I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favourite things
and then I don’t feeeel so baaaad
When the dawn breaks, and no ANC awakes
then this song will become one of my favourite takes on the sound of music – for democracy’s saaakes.

CLIFF HATT
Zinkwazi