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Zuma, like Trump, introduced this new vocabulary into South Africa

As South Africa’s ruling party, African National Congress (ANC), formally request for President Jacob Zuma’s resignation, we reminisce on how he revolutionized SA grammar, just like one of the most controversial President in American history; Donald Trump.

Trump sent renowned dictionary publishers like Merriam Webster on a “covfefe” chase, with his “braggadocious” and “bigly” grammar while having one of his “executive time” chasing “fake news”.

On what some may refer to as a “dishonorable” way out, the following words became widely used in a context different from the initial usage before President Zuma.

ZUPTA

The alleged bromance between President Zuma and the Gupta brothers (Ajay, Atul and Rajesh) resulted in the coinage of “Zupta” (the first two words from the President’s surname; Zuma, and the last three of Gupta), and was popularized by the opposition, Economic Freedom fighters (EFF). Both families have denied this seemingly unholy relationship.

The Gupta family is an Indian-born South African business family which owns a business empire spanning computer equipment, media and mining. The alleged ties have led to widespread claims of corruption, undue influence and of “state capture”.

STATE CAPTURE

A term used for a type of politically corrupt system where private interests significantly influence the state’s decision making to its advantage.

The ZUPTA alliance led to widespread protest throughout SA, with claims of State capture by the Guptas, through the help of the President and his family.  The Guptas and Zumas also denied claims by the former deputy Finance Minister, Mcebisi Jonas, that he was offered bribe ($45million) to remove key Treasury officials from posts, while advancing the Guptas’ business ambition.

The phrase was named  ‘2017 Word of the Year’  by the Pan South African Language Board, with its Chief Executive, Mpho Monareng saying;

 “We are happy with the choice as it echoes a year dominated by highly-charged political and social discourse.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if State capture becomes one of the defining words of our time”

WHITE MONOPOLY CAPITAL

More than two decades after Apartheid, there still exists an unfair disadvantage to the 90% Black population, with the minority Whites owning about 95% of the Country’s assets.

The Guptas have again found themselves in murky waters, following a racially driven campaign carried out on behalf of the Guptas by UK based PR firm, Bell Pottinger.

Until its ejection from the UK public relations trade body, the firm was allegedly used to target Zuma’s opponents, calling them ‘White Monopoly Capital’.

RADICAL ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

In SA, ‘transformation’ mean to correct the racial inequalities in the Country, while ‘radical’ stresses on the need to take back the economic powers from the Whites and evenly redistribute the lands among the Black majority.

Although it has remained the policy of the ruling ANC, some opined that Bell Pottinger deliberately popularized the term to suggest that the President’s scandals were sponsored by ‘White Monopoly Capital’ because of his ideology of bringing about ‘Radical Economic Transformation’.

NKAAANDLA

A term used to refer to a ‘sold out’ or to ridicule people critical of corruption charges against the President. Although similar to Nkandla (Zuma’s private home which was the center of a multi-million dollar scandal), it is pronounced with a nasal intonation.

The word originated from the President’s mockery of opposition leader, Mmusi Maimane’s way of pronouncing Nkandla.

POINT OF ORDER/HONORABLE MEMBER

These are common terms used in Parliamentary procedures to either draw attention to rule violation, Point of order, or to address Members of Parliament. Honorable member and Point of Order is now synonymous with the rowdy and disruptive sections witnessed in SA’s House of Parliament.

These terms have found a way into the citizen’s everyday affairs, for instance, if one is in a heated argument, one may continue shouting point of order till one’s companions maintain decorum, and a cry of honorable member is to seek permission to have the floor, without disruption from others present.

TJATJARAG (pronounced cha-cha-ragh)

A term which gained prominence in 2010 following an encounter between former ANC youth leader and now opposition leader, Julius Malema and BBC journalist, Jonah Fisher, reacting to the broadcaster’s comment, calling the latter ‘tjatjarag’, which later led to his removal from BBC.

Tjatjarag means “to be over excited, over-eager, and/or annoying”. It has become a term used to deter people from behaving in ways that may lead to ‘being kicked out’, especially in a gathering.

MANTASH

Another funny word used by South Africans to mean to “change one’s mind abruptly”. Named after ANC Secretary-General , Gwede Mantashe, for his numerous renegade on decisions earlier taken.

For instance, Mr Mantashe appeared to have questioned Zuma’s decision in a controversial cabinet reshuffle, decrying the treatment of Ministers as “unacceptable”, a few days later saw him rescinding on his earlier statement, saying the party accepted the President’s style of leadership.

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