I have shied away from writing about politics and local events in my blog for some time now, largely because it is all so disappointing. You cannot open a newspaper without reading how various members of the Mandela family are fighting each other and that is not even to get into the allegations about Madiba being on life support or not.

A page later you will read more about Nkandla, where the reports are all top secret, despite even the Deputy President saying they should not be, and politicians try to assure us that the President is paying for his house, but just not the security upgrades, which include a tuck shop for one of his wives, not to mention, it would appear, everything other than the shell of the house. For example, since they say there has to be air conditioning in the area, and I am assuming they are saying that from a security point of view, the President is not paying for any of the air conditioning that is put into his house – that is a “security upgrade”. It is amazing that more members of Parliament are not taking the “if you cannot beat them, join them” approach and all asking for “security” upgrades of their houses. After all, an argument can be made for just about every feature that you put into a house that it could be a security upgrade. If you live on a busy road, double glazed glass is far better to keep out the noise and to keep you warmer – but I am sure if somebody aims an arrow at you, the double glazed glass will also do a better job of keeping you safe. An underground home theatre must be a safer way to watch television, perhaps with a downstairs bar and other refreshments in the event of an attack while you are watching TV.

With the latest and most expensive technology ranging from fridges to of course the tuck shop, which will prevent you from having to go outside the property for some of your shopping, you can be more secure and have taxpayers fund it all. I have always felt that Presidents in South Africa are paid too little, as are most politicians, and while that far exceeds the earnings of the average person, it allows temptations to arise, but I think everybody, had they known this was on the table, would be prepared to be the State President or indeed a Cabinet Minister, at little or no cost, just for a R200 million plus “security upgrade” to their mansion or family village.