HAVING decided to shaft Nelson Mandela Metro Mayor, Nondumiso Maphazi, for governmenace failures, factionalism and general incompetence, the ANC’s spin doctors worked very hard to package the decision.
What followed was a masterpiece of the “smiling death” type in which the ANC damned her with faint praise.
Some classic extracts from the statement:

She remains “Her Worship” until the dying breath:
“The African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape, in consultation with the ANC national leadership confirms the redeployment of Her Worship, comrade Nondumiso Maphazi from the current deployment. We also want to further confirm that comrade Zanoxolo Wayile is the next identified Mayor-elect, with comrade Nancy Sihlwayi as deputy.”

She is apparently being redeployed despite tremendous success:
“Having observed the great improvement and significant strides by the ANC-led council in improving lives of the citizens of Metro since the dawn of democracy, the ANC is convinced that Nelson Mandela Metro is the strategic hub of commercial and industrial zone in the Eastern Cape.”

Somewhere in this is a criticism …
“The redeployment of the mayor closes a chapter of painful tension, confusion and collapse of expected relationship between its deployees and the organisation. For a better facilitated development, economic growth, service delivery and social security for the vulnerable sectors of our society, we call for unity.”

Her Worship is taking it like a comrade:
“We wish to thank the executive Mayor and her team, appreciating her understanding of the situation. Her contribution to mitigate in social upliftment during her tenure, delivering world class 2010 stadium has been noted by the movement. Selectively and singularly we appreciate her and the collective that she put together to ensure that service delivery is on track.”

Shhh! Don’t pop the champagne corks in public!
“The ANC at this point wish to point it out that this is not to be celebrated as it is not victory against the enemy rather a close internal matter of the ANC to manage its own affairs.”

There you have it, an absolute classic piece of shugamafoo!

Related posts:

1. ANC’s use of Mandela leaves a bad taste
2. ANC plays stunning Mandela trump card at massive final rally
3. Mandela endorsement of ANC a huge blow to Cope
4. ANC Youth League: Joel Netshitenzhe must “cleanse” himself – full text
5. Helen Zille won’t go far as a one-trick pony