Why do South Africans generally seem so distrustful, fearful, and paranoid of one another? When ANC leaders or supporters do something Helen Zille does not like, she is quick to claim that it is all part of an ANC plot. When someone criticises the appointment of the CEO of the SABC, the MK War veterans claim the CEO is the victim of a plot to undermine both Minister Siphiwe Nyanda and President Jacob Zuma. We also had the “plot” against Schabir Shaik and President Zuma and the many “plots” against then President Thabo Mbeki, not to mention the “plot” by the TAC to poison South Africans with anti-retroviral drugs.
Many South Africans seem to live in constant fear of fellow citizens and believe that fellow citizens are continuously plotting to do them harm. Even legitimate academic curiosity (like asking whether polygamy would be constitutional or not) are turned into a paranoid and defensive fight as it is seen as part of a “plot” to attack or undermine a specific culture or the beliefs of a specific race group.
What’s going on?
Of course, as Alan Arkin once remarked (or was it William Burroughs?) “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you”. Nevertheless, the South African obsession with plots and the tendency to see a conspiracy under every bush (just like the National Party saw a communist under every bush or under every bed) seems a bit extreme.
One way to explain this paranoid obsession with plots and conspiracies is to argue that those who allude to them do not really believe that there are plots and conspiracies against them and their group, but merely make use of a device to try and shut up criticism to avoid having to justify their crooked or unethical behaviour. By claiming that one is being persecuted, one never has to answer legitimate questions about the criticism or charges levelled against you.
Hence, Hillary Clinton spoke of a “vast right-wing conspiracy” against her husband during the Monica Lewinski scandal. This allowed her and her husband to portray themselves as victims and helped to confuse things so that the public would not remember that Bill Clinton really did have sexual relations with that woman (or to forgive him for it).
Similarly, President Jacob Zuma’s claim that there was a conspiracy against him allowed him never to have to answer a few basic questions regarding the charges brought against him. In President Zuma’s case, this tactic was particularly successful because it seemed rather likely that while evidence about his corrupt relationship with Schabir Shaik was clearly very real, he might well have been singled out for prosecution while others more friendly to then President Thabo Mbeki were never prosecuted.
A second explanation is that many people really have a fundamental misconception of the way in which the right to freedom of expression, the Rule of Law and accountable government are supposed to protect everyone in society from lies, corruption and dishonesty. Leaders are placed on a pedestal (Helen Zille just as much by her supporters as Jacob Zuma by his) and any questions about the wisdom, integrity or ethics of a leader are seen as treasonous attacks on the collective identity of the supporters.
Leaders are often seen (and then begin to see themselves) as not being subject to the same rules and degree of scrutiny as ordinary workers. Because leaders are “important”, “special” or “exulted”, they must be treated in a special manner and should be shown special respect and should be deferred to – no matter what they do or say.
This view flies in the face of what is expected from leaders in a constitutional democracy where leaders are servants of the people (and therefore are not viewed as especially “important” or “special”). In such a democracy leaders should expect to face more (not less) scrutiny, criticism and even ridicule than ordinary citizens who are not servants of the people.
Third, I suspect South Africa’s long history of racial oppression and the struggle for freedom that resulted from it have also warped views and made many of us far more paranoid than we should be. Many white South Africans were scared into supporting the National Party with “Swart Gevaar”, Rooi Gevaar” and sommer any other kind of “Gevaar” tactics, which played into the underlying racism in the white community and made many whites fearful and deeply distrustful of black people in general and black political leaders in particular.
Most if not all black South Africans experienced first hand the racial arrogance, disdain and hatred by many white South Africans and suspect that despite the changes brought about by the transition to democracy, the vast majority of white people harbour an irrational, racist animosity towards them – even if this is now sometimes disguised by politically correct platitudes.
No wonder people do not trust each other and are often prepared to believe the worst of those who criticise them or the leaders they feel emotionally close to. Such feelings are of course exploited by politicians for their own nefarious ends and are exacerbated by the cynical or racist actions of supporters across the political divide.
The important question is of course: how can we get past this paranoia, fear and distrust and arrive at a place where it would become possible to have a relatively reasoned discussion about the merits of leader X or Y without anyone ranting and raving about “plots”, conspiracies” or racism.
Maybe in 2010 we should start a discussion on this important question, because if we fail to answer it, unscrupulous politicians will exploit our fears and hatreds to escape responsibility for their own failings – and all South Africans, but especially poor and marginalised one’s relying on the state to create the conditions for a better life for them and their children, will continue to suffer.
“The important question is of course: how can we get past this paranoia, fear and distrust and arrive at a place where it would become possible to have a relatively reasoned discussion about the merits of leader X or Y without anyone ranting and raving about “plots”, conspiracies” or racism.” It is very easy. Start by removing spywares from my/our computers.
The crux of the problem is that here in our society there are people, by virtue of their positions, wealth or education, think they are more intelligent than the rest. Then these people will begin to do clandestine things hoping the rest will not discover those clandestine things. And then these things get discovered. Can you see that, until we remain true to each other, the mentality of conspiracies and plots will continue to be with us for quite a long time?
A good place to start is to honestly, with thorough introspection, admit our innate prejudices against people who are different from ourselves – be it politically, religiously or culturally.
With this understanding in mind we are better able to “draw a line under it” in our rational & emotional responses to those around us who don’t share our views. It allows us the freedom to recognise where the mines are in all our cognitive minefields and avoid them at all costs. A clearer and more rational thinking is then possible when dealing with the issues that differ from our ways of thinking.
Another method to overcome this irrationality, which should in my opinion run parallel to what I’ve outlined above, is to engage informally with those around us who don’t share our views. Go out and live a little; experience the world through other people’s eyes! “Walk a mile in another persons shoes” as they say.
None of this is new stuff…I think most of us have heard these strategies before.
The emphasis should be on building bridges of understanding between ourselves and not strengthening the walls that separate us!
A little blue pill called Tranparency will cure our ills.
Access for all citizens to state information. Confidential info in a presidential term must be public after the announcement of every general election.
Pierre, I cannot help feeling disappointed that you opted not to acknowledge the most nefarious conspiracy of all — the plot to destroy Hlophe JP. Was it a coincidence that a series of baseless allegations emerged after the JP exposed the RACISM of the WHITE LIBERALS at the Cape Bar and Bench? (I think not.) And remember — the target of the bigots’ fury was a man who struggled tirelessly against oppression, and who produced an incandescent body of jurisprudence arguably equal to that of Voet, Grotius, Pothier, even Bykershoek.
Pierre, note that you do not mention one of the most enduring of conspiracy stories — the so-called “Third Force.” Is that because you believe there really WAS such a conspiracy?
As you say, even paranoids have enemies.
On that note: A vast right-wing conspiracy really WAS launched against the Clintons. (By the same coalition of right-wing evangelicals, gun-nuts and no-nothings who have convinced a good minority of Americans that Obama is a Muslim.)
I don’t think it is possible to over-estimate the damage apartheid did. Much of the paranoia we see is, I think, attributable to apartheid. Every level of society was damaged. We have learnt our lessons well; no one, particularly people in authority positions are to be trusted. We know they lie and that they will confound their lies further by saying that their policies are good for us. Not only that, the policies turned fellow citizens against one another. Changing a constitution does not fix the damage to society. Especially when the effects of that damage is still visible everyday.
Can it be fixed? I think it can, but I also think it takes extremely long to fix this sort of damage. Routinely in any situation where people have been wronged, the victims experience the damage far longer than the perpetrators recognise the harm they have done or the long-lasting effects of their behaviour on victims. I think this still underlies a lot of what we see. Victims are expected to forget while perpetrators continue to not understand.
The only way I can see is for perpetrators and victims to honestly meet one another in their everyday activities. In this we recognise that these roles are not mutually exclusive and develop humility and the humanity in one another.
Gwebecimele says:
January 8, 2010 at 10:59 am
“A little blue pill called Tranparency will cure our ills”.
There’s is a “little blue pill” about and it’s not called Transparency.
On the subject of transparency, the matric results are about as transparent as it gets re our governments consideration of education of our children.
Excuses and blame abound but the outcome speaks for itself – let’s see which, if any, heads roll
http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/editorials/article252641.ece
Fingers will be pointed, and I am sure there are many reasons for the terrible matric results.
But I am convinced that a single factor predominates: the fact that many white teachers are still employed by schools that teach black learners.
The government did well in the 90′s by giving white teachers generous retrenchment packages, to open up slots for transformation. But the job is not yet finished. And our education systems will not work properly until the white dead wood is fully excised.
Mikhail Dworkin Fassbinder says:
January 11, 2010 at 6:57 am
Hey Dworky.
Interesting view that you have.
As you see it, race rather than the inherited systemic and structural inadequacies, policy and planning framework, leadership and management and some serious strategic misdirection has led to this less than desirable situation.
Higher education institutions, I am told, get less grant funding for Teacher Education than for other disciplines.
But perhaps I am wrong – the race of educators may well be the the very core of this dismal outcome.
Do you think if only White teachers were employed, this will be resolved?
Maggs, we start 2010 (Viva FIFA World Cup!), off on a bad note – by your somehow reading my thoughtful contributions as stating the very opposite of what I actually said.
Yes, we all understand that historical factors, home environment, textbook availability, etc. account in part for the poor results among black learners.
I am simply saying that one aggravating factor is the DOE’s failure to get the remaining white teachers out of predominantly black schools as speedily as possible. Black learners need — more than anything else — role models of their own race. Also, all the qualifications in the world do not outweigh the patronising RACISM of so many white teachers, which we know so cripple these childrens’ chances and crush their fragile little self-esteems!
@ ElaineB is right.
Apartheid is to blame for a great deal of the distrust in our body politic.
This is clearly evident if you compare our style of politics with countries that never experienced apartheid. Angola, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and the DRC, for example, may have their problems. But at least people trust one another, and there are not charges of conspiracy flung about. Thank goodness they were spared apartheid!
Hey Dworky,
So your take is that race is the over riding consideration.
Interesting!
The re-emergence of the Berlin Wall?
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-01-11-israel-to-build-barrier-along-egyptian-frontier
Gwebecimele says:
January 8, 2010 at 10:59 am
“Confidential info in a presidential term must be public after the announcement of every general election”.
Hey Gwebe – did you listen to our President on eTV this morning?
I am still wondering what it is that he said that sets pace, direction and determination for this administration.
There’s rebroadcasts at 3 pm and 8pm.
It will be interesting to hear what other views are.
@ Maggs.
I missed the the etv news this morning. I want to also see the interview last night with Nikiwe Bikitsha on Channel 403, I hope they repeat that.
I opted not to listen to the speech at the rally, I really had no expectations and it seems as if I did no loose anything.
Gwebecimele says:
January 11, 2010 at 11:37 am
That’s the one – tonite at 8 is a repeat.
What Prof de Vos has expessed in his article is the sign of our times. This issue of mistrust of the bona fides of fellow citizen in the national discourse has gained currency in media (of all shades), public commentary by analyts, authors and ploliticians. Plots and conspiracies even more astonishing pop pyschology are advanced to explain rudimentary arguments. For example – The ruction witnessed between the tripartite alliance partners is presented by our thinking class as a mere feud between Africanists and Socialists without any factual backing of this thesis. But, what if what we are witnessing is proverbial tip of a gigantic iceberg, a realigment in the dynamics of our politics. If only our thinking class would probe these dynamics scientifically, factually and without being alarmist I don’t think their arguments will be conflated with plots, conspiracies or paranoia real or imagined. I am afraid if we continue on this well travelled path the evils of our past will be visited upon us again. Whereupon the difference between rumour, insults, slander and the just truth is blurred.
If this was a well-run country – an efficient, competent, incorruptible administration – would the negativism have flourished?
To how many was it the realisation of their worst fears as they stood around the grave of a loved one – without ever knowing the closure of a perpetrator being sucessfully, speedily tried, convicted and locked away? (We know Sne’s views on this subject – fairly representative?)
How many following this blog have children, cousins, who have been displaced to other countries as high-grade refugees?
Please, lets keep it real.
There is such a thing as an objective reality and objective truth.
Please spare us the superficial soul-searching.
It rings hollow in a country where not one leader in 15 years has tried to inspire (even while mouthing platitudes about reconciliation and discrimination) the people of this country to try treat everyone they come across as someone created in the Lord’s image. Or tried to inspire anyone to try lead godly lives.
“… (We know Sne’s views on this subject – fairly representative?)”
It is not a good idea to discuss anything other than guns with Brett so contain yourself Sine.
Sine says:
January 12, 2010 at 6:23 am
Hey Sne,
Did you ever watch “Curb your enthusiasm” starring Larry David?
@ Maggs
I’ve only watched it about 2 times in 2006 or 2007. Why?
@ Sne
“It is not a good idea to discuss anything other than guns with Brett so contain yourself Sine.”
This morning Julius Malema was quoted as saying the whites still control big chunk of the economy and he said if someone calls him a racist then the ,”Statistics are racist”
I guess he will freak out when he sees these figures of Directors who sold shares in their companies.
Other luminaries who sold their own companies shares were: Stephen Koseff (R16.1m Investec (JSE:INL)), Franklin Sonn (R14.7m Esor, Mustaq Bray (R14m Brimstone), David Sussman (R12.9m JD Group (JSE:JDG)).
Date Director Type Share Total
29-Dec-09 Basson, J Welwood Sell SHP 249,257,563
8-Dec-09 Venter, William P Sell ATN 72,526,385
24-Dec-09 Basson, J Welwood Option Exercised SHP 65,100,000
3-Dec-09 Malherbe, Josua Sell REM 52,627,916
9-Dec-09 Steinhoff, Bruno Ewald Sell SHF 48,975,000
9-Dec-09 du Toit, J F Buy FVT 37,031,330
2-Dec-09 Venter, William P Sell ATN 30,600,000
30-Dec-09 Brain, Michael Sell BCF 30,000,000
23-Dec-09 Nel, Fredrik J Sell SHF 26,904,569
28-Dec-09 Gore, Adrian Sell DSY 24,416,000
3-Dec-09 Durand, J J Sell REM 20,998,585
23-Dec-09 Jooste, Markus J Buy SHF 20,500,000
29-Dec-09 Gore, Adrian Option Collar DSY 19,156,849
23-Dec-09 Ferreira, Hendrik Johan K Option Buy SHF 17,405,156
15-Dec-09 Koseff, Stephen Sell INP 16,123,100
17-Dec-09 Hubbard, Andrew John Buy QHL 14,829,818
8-Dec-09 Sonn, Franklin A Sell ESR 14,686,250
14-Dec-09 Brey, Mustaq A Sell BRN 14,440,000
30-Dec-09 Basson, J Welwood Sell SHP 14,246,715
22-Dec-09 Director of a Subsidiary Sell SHP 13,242,000
1-Dec-09 Marais, W T Sell OMN 13,088,160
6-Jan-10 Sussman, I David Sell JDG 12,902,500
29-Dec-09 Basson, J Welwood Sell SHP 12,333,778
29-Dec-09 Gore, Adrian Option Collar DSY 12,124,588
14-Dec-09 Tod, Derek A Buy DAW 11,400,206
Hello my name is Mamie Baker and I am a 20 year old Black Woman who lives in Calgary, Alberta in Canada and I have a severe problem with paranoia and I think I need to be put in a Nuthouse to have this issue dealt with. I also have problems with being disrespectful, manners of a pig, ignorant and dumber than a sack of hammers as I have done a lot of dumb things. I should definitely be put in the Nuthouse in a padded cell and have a straight jacket put on and as well a muzzle over my mouth so nobody has to listen to me talk as I am totally nuts.