South African politics are a bit like an episode of ‘Game of Thrones’. The Night King (Apartheid) might be dead but do not underestimate the liberator Daenerys Targaryen (ANC).

She might be the Protector of the Realm, the Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons but she also might be mad.

Will she eventually self-destruct, be taken down by her own people or fall to outside parties hungry for the throne?

Or might she just be redeemed?

All questions that look very likely to be answered in the next five year episode, so stay tuned (and don’t emigrate just yet).

The opposition DA took some significant losses this year and quite frankly, I am not surprised.

They have been flopping about like a fish out of water for a while now, trying to be all things to all men, and all they achieved was alienating voters.

Perhaps they will still return from the dead (Jon Snow style) but whether they can regain those ‘houses’ who are now in bed with the FF+ or tame a young dragon named Malema remains to be seen.

Sure, it is bit harsh to refer to the Democratic Alliance as dead (they are far from it).

I hope at least that their poor showing will be a wake-up call that will filter down to municipal level, where the real cookie crumbles.

Ordinary people have real-life issues (like the park where their kids play and the street lights that still do not work) and if they do not believe that their elected councillors (whether DA or any other party) have their backs, then they will start to look elsewhere.

The future can look bleak if you spend too much time watching gory series on TV or thinking about the real life soap opera that makes up our political landscape.

Personally, I do not plan to allow either to dictate my future. South Africa has too much going for it.

We live in an incredibly diverse country, and while we have our problems (who doesn’t?) we also have significant potential for greatness.

Right here in this community of KwaDukuza we have people of integrity and people of faith who are daily pushing back against the tide to change the status quo, to lift up the poor and build bridges and genuine friendships across racial and religious divides.

In this week’s edition of the Courier you can read about the group of students who have launched a campaign “It takes a village….” targeting young boys in Nkobongo.

They want to help these kids navigate out of a very challenging present into a better future.

We also brought you Karenne Bloomgarden who is working with Partners for Possibility and Ashton College to support teachers from under resourced local schools with practical training.

These are just two of the many good news stories my news team and I strive to bring you every week.

Read on and be inspired.

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