The power of a lie

A single lie can unravel lives, relationships and even nations. As SHARMINI NAIDOO notes, lies that are repeated and reinforced corrode trust, distort reality and erode the moral foundations of society.

Did you know that if you tell a lie often enough, people will start to believe it? This is, in fact, a technique used by politicians to manipulate facts and shape public perception, called the “Big Lie”.

Lies, untruths, mistruths, half-truths and strategic ambiguity; misinformation and disinformation; fearmongering, deception, manipulation and paltering (a technique used to deliberately mislead) are among the many tools commonly adopted to control the narrative. This is often executed through charismatic leadership (by playing on people’s emotions), propaganda and even media manipulation.

This is not unique to South Africa, but a worldwide phenomenon – and one has to wonder how much of what we hear, read and see is actually true.

We believe the lies…  not because we are naïve, but because they sound so credible. As the famous quote* goes: “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its boots.”

In his book, The Power of a Lie, Johan Bojer explores the destructive and far-reaching consequences of deceit, morality, justice and the nature of truth, arguing that dishonesty undermines the foundations of a just society.

Bill Adair, founder of Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking website PolitiFact and author of Beyond the Big Lie: The Epidemic of Political Lying, notes that lying is not a victimless crime. “When politicians choose to lie, there are often people who suffer – often someone whose reputation is damaged, whose life is turned upside down,” he says.

According to Khumo Kumalo, founder of youth-based advocacy group Misunderstood, “A world driven by lies is unable to see humanity and the people who suffer as a result of those lies. They are unwilling to give up their thirst for power and control in the world. We only lie to avoid consequences or seek benefits. When the people leading our countries are the most pathological liars of them all, they create a world where lies are the foundation for all discourse.”

And herein lies the problem… 

Crisis in our law enforcement

As the Madlanga Commission progresses, it exposes more lies, sabotage, collusion and corruption by the very people who have sworn to protect our country. The corruption, political meddling and thuggery have made an absolute mockery of our law enforcement institutions and criminal justice system.

Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia raised his concerns at the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee over the integrity (or lack thereof) of South Africa’s policing and emphasised the need to bolster both Crime Intelligence and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, saying: “We need to move to a process of resetting SAPS, and I hope that will be the outcome of this inquiry process – as well as the Madlanga Commission – to help the country understand what is happening and what the way forward is to reset the SAPS.”

Readiness for G20

With the G20 Leaders’ Summit approaching, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said that preparations by the provincial government and municipalities ahead of the summit will serve as a springboard to accelerate service delivery. The premier dismissed concerns of “window dressing” for the thousands of visitors expected to descend on the province for the summit.

“The service delivery improvements implemented – from repaired roads and functional streetlights to enhanced public spaces and advanced security technology – are not for the summit alone. They are permanent enhancements designed for the enduring benefit of all who live in, work in and visit our beautiful province,” he stressed.

More untruths 

Meanwhile, no US officials will attend the summit amidst unsubstantiated claims that white Afrikaners “are being killed and slaughtered” in the country – maintaining that, as long as these “human rights abuses” continue, attendance will be withheld.

Combating crime at our border posts

The illegal transportation (smuggling) of drugs from South Africa into Zimbabwe is becoming a major problem. The porous border and corruption at official entry points facilitate the smuggling of various substances, which are then distributed for local use and transit to other markets.

The fatal bus crash on the N1 in Limpopo last month highlighted this issue, as bags and boxes containing large quantities of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other prescription medicines were found among the wreckage.

The bus was reportedly overloaded, while identity documents could not be traced to some of the passengers. The incident has prompted an investigation into various allegations of corruption within provincial transport departments across the country. Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation and are treating the case as a potential pharmaceutical crime mystery.

The big question is: where are these drugs coming from? The theft of drugs from hospitals and clinics is a significant and ongoing issue in South Africa’s public healthcare sector, driven by both healthcare workers and organised crime syndicates. The stolen medications are often high-demand items – particularly ARVs, painkillers, and other essential medicines – which are then sold on the black market. Other avenues include concealment through our ports via containers.

As long as there is a market for these commodities and money to be made, such activities will continue unless the authorities play their role in curbing them rather than aiding them.

Police have also beefed up patrols on the N1 towards the Beitbridge border post and along the border in Musina, Limpopo, ahead of the festive season.

Acting provincial police commissioner Jan Scheepers says police are collaborating with the Border Management Agency and the community to curb cross-border crime. The joint effort is aimed at detecting criminal activity, intercepting stolen goods and preventing illegal crossings between South Africa and Zimbabwe. So far, the authorities have recovered 174 vehicles that were destined to be smuggled across the border to Zimbabwe with false documents from financial institutions and car dealerships. Ongoing patrols and roadblocks along the N1 are in place to disrupt these organised criminal networks that target vehicles for export.

National safer festive season campaign

The Department of Transport has also launched the National Safer Festive Season Campaign, with intensified law enforcement and awareness drives. The campaign aims to increase police visibility, enhance public knowledge of road safety and reduce road fatalities through a zero-tolerance approach to drunk driving and other offences. Particular focus will be placed on vehicle and driver fitness through regular compliance checks targeting unroadworthy vehicles, invalid licences and public transport operators without permits.

Johannesburg motorists should brace themselves for a high frequency of traffic stops and speeding traps as the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) implements a “high-density, integrated operational plan across all regions of Johannesburg,” which officials have told us will focus heavily on visible policing, especially during peak travel times and high-risk periods.

The JMPD plans to significantly increase the frequency and duration of multi-disciplinary roadblocks during the festive season. Roadblocks will be strategically positioned on key national routes (N1, N3, N12, M1) and central urban arteries to ensure maximum impact on both compliance and crime prevention.

There will be 24/7 enforcement visibility on high-volume routes, while speeding and reckless driving will be tackled through fixed-point and mobile speed enforcement technologies, including intensified deployment of manned speed traps. Dedicated units will also be deployed to focus on speed enforcement to immediately address and process drivers caught for excessive speeds.

To tackle driving under the influence (DUI), traffic officers will also set up sobriety checkpoints across Johannesburg’s major arterial and suburban routes to remove intoxicated drivers from the roads.

According to the JMPD, its goal isn’t merely revenue collection (what a pity that it still is, even partly), but to fundamentally alter driving behaviour through consistent, visible and aggressive enforcement actions against offenders.

In Cape Town, traffic services will be on patrol 24/7 during the festive season as part of the City’s Festive Season Safety Plan. The specialised Highway Patrol Unit will also be out on patrol to ensure a safe road environment and to assist motorists on the highways. The Metro’s safety plan will focus not only on road safety within the city, but also for long-distance travellers.

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli also recently launched the province’s Festive Season Safety Plan in Durban. It includes a comprehensive strategy to safeguard lives, property and livelihoods during the upcoming festive period.

KZN is expected to welcome over two million visitors and generate R13 billion in economic activity during this festive season. The Premier emphasised that the province’s tourism-driven economy depends on safe communities, secure roads and law-abiding citizens, saying that prosperity and safety are inseparable. He called on all citizens to exercise responsibility and vigilance.

KZN’s strengthened law enforcement and collaboration initiative will see 24,515 law enforcement and emergency personnel deployed, including:

• 17,528 SAPS members
• 2,000 Metro Police officers
• 693 Road Traffic Inspectorate officers
• 1,912 Emergency medical services officials
• 134 SARS customs officers
• 1,167 Community safety volunteers

In the words of Premier Ntuli: “Let this festive season be remembered not for tragedy, but for discipline, cooperation and success. Together, we can make this a season of safety, dignity and growth for all the people of KwaZulu-Natal.”

Yes, we can!

* Often misattributed to Mark Twain or Winston Churchill.