Who can we count on

Who can we count on
since there are no more
to be counted upon
(switch off the lights)

Who can we count on
now that our Malema
(when he grows up)
might become a Mandela
according to our union man

Who can we count on
as our leaders, emperors
and their sheiks too
unveil themselves before us

Who can we count on
no budding mathematicians
engineers up-and-coming
(standard grade rules still)

Who can we count on
Verwoerd’s shadow lurks
hewers of wood and
drawers of water

Who can we count on
tomorrow, while our
Western Cape Grade 3s
are on a learning curve

Who can we count on
when we even can’t
and we can’t even

What a nasty page 5, Cape Argus Friday March 6 2009: “Numeracy test reveals Cape kids can’t count”, “Malema a new Mandela, says Vavi”, “Posters held up by funding, says Cope” and “ANC’s rivals keen to Shaik things up”. Take your pick!