Public Servants

03 April 2022

09:30

 

The Politician

Sizwe Mthembu

 

"Wendy...have you booked the Hilton for this weekend?" Sizwe asks his PA Wendy Majola as she comes into his office. "Oh uhmm...I will be on it soon Mr. Mthembu. Are you celebrating special occasion?" Wendy Majola asks as she writes something down on her diary. "Oh come on Wendy, must one treat themselves only on birthdays? Nah I just thought a little break is needed." Sizwe says with a smile as he sits behind his huge desk. "Alright then, so should I book you and Mrs. Mthembu for this weekend then?" Wendy probes as she continues to write something down.

"Who said this was for me and my wife? I was thinking more like you and me at the Hilton." Sizwe says with a smirk on hi face as though he is proud of what he is saying. "Look, you have worked really hard over the last couple of weeks you deserve a little papering, don't you think? There's nothing wrong with being rewarded for your hard work."

This seems like a pleasant surprise for Wendy who lets out a little smile as she shakes her head in amazement. "I hope this doesn't get you in trouble with finance you know..." she says as she writes something down. "Oh come on, live a little alright? Didn't you see the budget? Our purse is overflowing darling...we are swimming in the money hahaha. Thank God that my budget vote was largely welcomed, except ofcourse those other hot heads who always reject everything we table. " Sizwe says as he shrugs his shoulders suddenly looking a little annoyed.

52 year-old Sizwe Mthembu has been Minister for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for about 3 years now and he seems to be having the time of his life here. He has been married to the mother of his son, 38 year old Portia for 5 years now and they live in one of the ministerial houses in Cape Town but he travels across provinces all the time as required by the job. His PA Wendy Majola is a 28 year-old jovial individual who enjoys the perks of being the minister’s aid. She has been Sizwe's PA even before he became minister and this job could been a reward.

"So since we are going to Durban I need to pack right...it's SA's playground afterall hahaha." the excited Wendy says as she remembers to write something. "So from which account should I pay for this trip? You know, I don't like drawing eyes."

"Arg, just put it on the department's card..." Sizwe says as he shrugs but when Wendy raises an eyebrow he says, "Hey look, it's not like I'm the only Minister in this administration that take trips, alright? You know what? In fact, let's do this...get hold of MEC Nhlanhla Ndlela and set up a meeting for the weekend at the Hilton hotel. So anyone who asks, this is a business trip alright? Perhaps later we can a small party at the hotel room."

Wendy smiles and shakes her head while writing this down. "Oh uhmm...speaking of which, do you still remember that the leader of Zamani settlements requested a meeting with you? You still haven't responded to his request..." she says as she raises an eyebrow. "Arg, you know what? I don't have time for those people right now okay? There's quiet a lot going on at the moment, so they will have to wait a little." Sizwe says as he looks a little irritated but Wendy cuts in, "But you know that these people are voters, right? You don't want to create an impression that you don't care about their concerns especially since Local Government Elections weren't so long ago."

"You know what Wendy? Can you please go do what I just asked please? I have a few phone calls to make..." the annoyed Sizwe says, to which Wendy thinks for a second before saying, "Yes ir..." as she turn to walk out the door, leaving the Minister thinking about this conversation.

***

 

10:30

 

Thulani Malinga

 

*Police Station Commander Thulani is on a phone call with his wife Sindi*

 

Thulani: "Hey baby, unjani(How are you)?"

Sindi: "I'm alright baby, how are you? You left early without saying goodbye...is everything alright with you? You even left your lunch..."

Thulani: "Oh I'm sorry sweetheart, I had an early day. Like I have been telling you that lately we are swamped with cases of mugging in the area so we are under pressure to find these thugs. People are growing weary and they don't feel safe out there.

Sindi: "Oh yeah I remember love..."

Thulani: "Yeah and the community is threatening protests so we need to get ahead of this storm before it starts."

Sindi: "I understand sweetheart so uhmm...let me leave to you to it then, okay?" 

Thulani: "Alright baby, I will try and not stay until late."

Sindi: "Okay good...so how will you get your lunch box then?"

Thulani: "Oh uhmm...I will have to come during lunch to fetch it..."

Sindi: "Alright then, I will have it ready..."

*Thulani hears commotion at the front*

Thulani: "Oh uhmm...darling I have to go alright? We will talk later. I love you."

*Call dropped*

 

Thulani rushes to the front desk to see what's the commotion about. There are a lot of people at the front desk who have come for different services. Some have come to do affidavits, others have come register different complaints like opening cases etc.

"Hey, what the hell is going on here? What's this all commotion?" he asks the officer at the front desk. "Oh uhmm...sir, this gentleman and his daughter there are here to open a case but he refuses to wait his turn." the officer says with a low voice as he points at the people concerned but when Thulani recognizes the man he takes a deep sigh before going over to him. "Uhmm...Mnumzane(Mr.) Ngubane...how are you? Uhmm... can you and your daughter follow me to my office please?" he says politely as he looks around the people who have now been drawn to Ben's tantrums.

The three quickly move to Thulani's office where they'd be able to have a private conversation.

"You know Mr. Ngubane we all know that you are a well-known and well-respected man of the community but I can't have you come into my station and start making unreasonable demands..." Thulani says with a straight face as he sits down in his desk but Ben quickly interjects, "But no, no, no...I was not making unreasonable demands alright? I was simply asking for assistant in there." he says as he raises his voice a little bit. "But everyone in there is seeking for assistance Mr. Ngubane but they are all awaiting their turn. Now if you start harassing my officers and they give to it everyone will demand to be attended to first...then nothing will ever get done." Thulani says as he shrugs.

It doesn't seem like Ben has a counter argument to that as he keeps quiet, so Thulani continues, "Now what can I do for you Mr. Ngubane?" he asks calmly. "Oh uhmm...this is my daughter Londeka...she was mugged yesterday on Saturday under the bridge at that off-ramp." Ben says with a low voice as he looks at his daughter who still looks a little shaken.

Thulani takes a deep sigh before saying, "Uhmm...I'm really sorry to hear that Londeka. What did they take? And did you get a good look at them?" Londeka looks at her father before saying, "Uhmm...no it was dark, but on of the two was skinny and tall. They took cash which was about R1200 and they also took my cell phone. I thought they'd kill me." with a rather shaken voice as flash backs of the ordeal come flooding her mind.

"Oh yeah, uhmm...we have had many complaints of mugging over the last few weeks and now every other day someone comes to open a case." Thulani says with a worried voice. "We believe that all these cases are connected because all the victims have described one of the perpetrators as skinny or tall..." he doesn't finish his thought though as Ben cuts in, "So at what point will you guys start doing something?" he asks in frustration as he looks at his daughter who looks just as frustrated and anxious. "But Mr. Ngubane, we are doing all that we can to find these thugs alright? We are not just sitting on our ass doing nothing."

"Well, it looks like you are not trying hard enough because these thugs are still out there mugging people everyday." Ben says as he raises a little bit. "Can't you make your officers more visible in the community? Surely if these people see police vans moving around in the township they wouldn't even think of doing something like this."

"Our resources are stretched as it is right now Mr. Ngubane..." Thulani says calmly but Ben cuts in, "That's bullsh*t..." he shouts. "You know what perhaps it best if I catch these thugs myself." He looks at his daughter who seems to agree as she nods but Thulani interjects, "If you are planning on taking law into your own hands, I'd say that's a very bad idea Mr. Ngubane. We will have to arrest you too for obstructing justice." he says calmly as he doesn't want to escalate this already tense conversation. "Well, guess you will have to arrest me then..." Ben says as he stands up. "Come on sweetheart..." he says as he and his daughter storm out of the station commander's office leaving him shocked.