'Cupcake' must fall

We seem to be more humoured than angry at our failing leaders and its pacifying us as our lives worsen under their leadership.

On the 20th of October there was a protest planned by StandUpSA and youth-led organisation Enough is Enough in Pretoria calling for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa; “Ramaphosa Must Go”. Protesters were expected to gather at Church Square and march to the union buildings. The posters for this protest made big rounds on social media. The virality of the cause rendered a lot of anticipation for the protest. The day of the protest came with a disappointing turn out of less than 40 people.

I’ve been baffled at this for weeks. How could South Africans, who are known to not miss a chance to practice their fundamental right to protest, fail so dismally to show up for a protest. All whilst it’s clear that people are outraged at the state of the country under his presidency. Inequality is the worst it has ever been, there’s been an unfathomable amount of government and corporate corruption, god-forsaken amounts loadshedding, and the cost and quality of life in this country has changed drastically, and for the worst. Not to mention the crime rates are insanely high and our police department may as well be nonexistent at this point. The femicide rates of this country reaching figures above the world average are responded with very little to no action from the government. Far too often where perpetrators of violence against women face little to no consequences and in some cases receive protection.

These are things South Africans are deeply frustrated and aware of, the need for change is quite clear as our lives deteriorate. It is clear that the general consensus of people towards the government is anger. But how much of that is actually directed to the president that leads the government? Ironically, it seems to me that Ramaphosa is still widely liked by many South Africans. He’s been awarded the fond nickname ‘Cupcake’. Amongst many of his visits to schools, he seems to evoke literal excitement amongst these young children who take chances to record videos doing trendy challenges with the president or even the video of a student who directly called him Cupcake out of excitement of meeting him. There are countless memes on TikTok of the president. South Africans make good jokes of our problematic leaders, but to what extent could that be our downfall. We have unintentionally given him a fond image, by infantalising him in the name of humor. He starts to seem harmless and more likeable.

By giving Ramaphosa that kind of image, we absolved him from consequences for his failures as President. Now more than ever is the time to be furious at the leadership Cyril Ramaphosa. If anything we seem to be completely oblivious to the unintended consequences of mockery and humor diluting resistance. We should see these leaders for the failures that they are. ’Cupcake’ doesn’t ignite any anger in us and with the state of the country at the moment we cannot afford anything less than pure fury. Especially as we prepare to shut down the country in the name of justice for women of South Africa. A president who has allowed the country to get to this point of disaster does not deserve to be comfortable or given a good public image, we don’t need to keep calling him Cupcake.