50 People Who Stuffed Up South Africa
by Alexander Parker (Illustrations by Zapiro)
(Two Dogs, R169)
Everyone from the archetypal minibus taxi driver to Lord Kitchener features on this witty and well-written list. Even though individuals are mentioned, others are representative of groups of people who have, as the title says, “stuffed up” the country.
While the motivation of some choices are personal (“The guy I sat next to at the polo”), political (Hendrik Verwoerd) and others are general (“The bitter expat”), what is evident from all of them is that the author is deeply patriotic and can’t stand how the country has been (and is being) taken for granted.
Zapiro’s illustrations add to the humour as only he can.
The collection is a summary of South African history: how bad decisions made generations ago still have a ripple effect which is being compounded by the poor decisions being made now. – Kamcilla Pillay