In a week in which Tony Leon came out with guns blazing because the African National Congress seemed, in his view, bent on dividing and ruling the white population, South Africa was pondering yet another great gulf in the populace.
This weekend the national question will be answered. That is: Who will be crowned South African football champions?
And, as with issues involved in the general public discourse, it is fraught with divisions. Some are based on logic, but most are a result of years of accumulated prejudice and preference.
Those who usually have their eye on the ball were caught offside.
”Why do you ask me? I am not sure and I don’t want to guess,” said Nelson Mandela’s lawyer, George Bizos.
Seeing that the nation’s unity was at risk, the Mail & Guardian sought the views of the country’s captains of industry, political office and social movements.
Government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe was non-committal about whom he thought held the upper hand in the expected 90-minute civil strife South Africa is set to experience on Sunday.
”As a government spokesperson there is a possibility that some people may [wrongly] interpret my own views as those of government,” said Netshitenzhe.
Concerns of government bias aside, the week did give some insight into how President Thabo Mbeki chose the team to run the country’s finances.
One comforting thing for those watching the economy is that there are no grey areas at the Treasury: Trevor Manuel and his deputy, Jabu Moleketi, see things in black and white. They have put their money on Orlando Pirates.
In fairness to Manuel, who was unavailable for comment as he was in Abuja at the African Development Bank meeting, we draw on past utterances. That’s what happens when you are minister of finance; what you say comes back to haunt you.
In October last year, on the day Pirates beat Chiefs 1-0, Manuel was a guest speaker at the Association of Black Securities and Professionals Gala dinner. He prefaced and concluded his speech with a smug and assured brandishing of the famous Pirates crossbones sign and declared: ”Up the Bucs.”
Said Moleketi this week: ”I am a Pirates supporter, so you know what my answer will be.
”But it will be tough, because Chiefs have an advantage in terms of goal difference, and we would need to win 5 or 6 nil [to catch up in that area]. But it’s not impossible.”
The keepers at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) are not blowing the same vuvuzela as the purse-strings guys.
Vusi Pikoli, the Scorpions head, was hopeful that his favourite team, Pirates, would arrest the decline it had experienced of late and bounce back.
”Of course my team is Orlando Pirates. The way they have played of late is a bit concerning but I believe we have what it takes to be champions. Up the Bucs!”
And so the much-reported divide in the NPA was revealed.
Special investigations unit head Willie Hofmeyr said: ”I think it will be Chiefs. I prefer them.”
Old Mutual boss Roddy Sparks thought only an unforeseen eventuality would stop Chiefs.
”The advantage is now definitely with Chiefs, as they have been on a roll lately and with a four goal advantage over Pirates, their destiny is in their own hands.”
For once, comedian David Kau saw the seriousness of the issues at hand and the need to nail one’s colours to the mast.
”Kaizer Chiefs, because I am a fan,” he said.
Bulelani Ngcuka, former Scorpions boss, now businessman, and communist party leader Blade Nzimande think Kau is just a joke.
”Pirates are going to win, they are the best team,” Ngcuka jibed and Nzimande finished off the attack: ”Pirates without a doubt.”
In another breakthrough this week we can reveal that the Treatment Action Campaign’s Zackie Achmat does not single out Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang for undue headaches.
”Just to irritate the deputy secretary of the young communist league, I am supporting Chiefs for the title,” he said.
After politicians and business have slagged each other off, whichever way it goes this Sunday, the M&G for once will break with tradition and give the president the last word on the matter: He has in the past boldly stated that ”South Africa belongs to all who live in it: black and white.”
Additional reporting by Lloyd Gedye and Cherie-Ann James