19 December 2008 FOOD FOR THOUGHT End of a tough year By JUSTICE MALALA

Well, SA, raise a glass. You deserve a drink. What a year, eh? Even for an eternal optimist like me (ha! and you thought you knew everything about me!) there was a bit of turbulence of confidence, which had me slightly stirred, if not totally shaken. But we made it through the year. We are here, and the future is looking bright under President Kgalema Motlanthe, even if he is a mere seat-warmer. Circle Bar Rosebank Hotel, Corner Tyrwhitt & Sturdee Avenues, Rosebank, Johannesburg Tel: (011) 448-3600 Obama Outstanding Good Terrible Paranoia But it's also been a hilarious year, that's for sure. First, we came back from holiday in January, and what do you know? The guys at Eskom had been so busy raking in the bonuses that they forgot to keep an eye on the power stations. So no lights for us. It would have been digestible if only Jacob Zuma was not beginning to show, just a month after being elected, that he did not know how to answer a question without checking whether Cosatu's Zwelinzima Vavi approved or not. The Eskom debacle, for which the then incumbent of the Union Buildings had apologised in December - before they actually happened, meaning at least someone in the country knew something the rest of us didn't - added a certain depression factor to the new year. And, of course, March reminded us of what could happen: a man who had been in power for 28 years just north of here was clinging on to it like nobody's business. He lost an election and still clung on. He failed to release the results for a month. Yes, he kept on recounting until the result swung his way. And he had the ever-reliable SA government propping him up, calling opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai a lackey of the West (code for someone who tells the truth) and bullying regional body SADC into kow-towing to Mugabe's every whim. Meanwhile, young Grace shopped on. Yes, it's been a tough year. Remember how we ran through the streets and attacked dark-skinned people and told them to "go home"? Yes, us, the same South Africans who took refuge in Zambia and elsewhere under apartheid. Meanwhile, as we killed fellow Africans, the president saw fit to hop on a plane and fly to Mozambique. Before you could say "air miles", he was rushing to Japan for a bit of sushi and sake. Crisis? What crisis? It reminded me of when he said there was no crisis in Zimbabwe. Not stirred, not shaken. What a year. Julius Malema said he would kill for Zuma; Gwede Mantashe said the judges of the constitutional court were "counter-revolutionaries". One wonders what the judges of the supreme court of appeal will be called on January 12 when they find against Zuma (and don't worry if you don't know which Zuma trial this one is - the man has loads on his hands, I am afraid). And, of course, the foot-in-mouth disease continues. Angie Motshekga, who masquerades as Gauteng's education MEC when she is not calling people dogs, told a meeting that education was not so important for one to be a leader. Which explains why Malema is not too bothered by his rather, er, challenged matric results. Light relief could not be found in business, either. The credit crunch has us all drinking cheap champers and subsisting on bread, while bankers develop strange twitches at the thought of not receiving their bonuses. But there has been some good news. Thabo Mbeki was kicked out of office. Not for the right reasons. Oh no, the Zuma crowd did not do it because they subscribe to good governance and all that stuff. But good news is good news. We are well rid of the arrogance, hypocrisy, racism and paranoia of that regime. Now we can grapple with Aids, Zimbabwe and other challenges without being told we are racists or lackeys of the West. What a relief. Which is why I find myself at the Circle Bar at the shiny new Rosebank Hotel toasting myself and my friends. They are editors Mondli Makhanya and Ferial Haffajee - both tellers of uncomfortable truths - and someone who used to work for Mbeki. Yes, shame. The Rosebank has been renovated and is the new place to be seen at. The booths in the Circle Bar are quite, er, 1970s pornographic style, but much loved by the clientele. The drinks menu is plentiful, and the paintings are electronic and change while you are trying to find their meaning. Service is friendly but the sandwiches take a long time to arrive. Next year will be better. I promise.