‘Fools are wise in hindsight’ – Ramaphosa unimpressed by SONA Debate insults

Cyril Ramaphosa’s SONA speech failed to get the opposition benches onside, and in the week between his national address and Parliamentary response, it’s fair to say his critics have had a field day. The president has been called everything from ‘a protector of white monopoly capital‘, to ‘the Cookie Monster‘ over the past couple of days.

Cyril Ramaphosa responds to SONA Debate

However, to paraphrase Shania Twain – an opportunity we are unable to resist – none of that has impressed Cyril much. After two days of SONA Debate, which essentially invited the other 12 political parties in the National Assembly to roast Mr. Ramaphosa, the head of state was allowed to present his right of reply – and he kept things on a level.

He didn’t bite back at Malema, nor did he take a trip down Sesame Street to berate the DA. President Ramaphosa instead plumped for a quote from Homer – and no, it wasn’t just a loud exclamation of the word D’oh. Cyril channeled the Greek classics, to suggest that the ‘mudslinging’ witnessed over the past 48 hours is fuelled by hindsight.

The Presidents cracks out the classics to handle critics

And, according to the president, ‘even a fool can be wise after the event’.

Cyril’s SONA speech may have been uninspiring, but this debate clapback was a touch of class…

“We have led and will continue to lead this country through the worst crisis of the democratic era. It is much easier to say in hindsight what should have been done differently. To quote Homer [the Greek poet], ‘even a fool is wise after the event’.”

“Much of what we heard from the opposition benches over the last two days was little more than name-calling and mud-slinging. It is the business of Parliament to engage not in insults, but on what is needed to restore confidence and to bring stability to our nation. We are undertaking critical actions at a time of great difficulty.”

• There was even time for a quick toast – marking a return to civility in the House…

Pres Ramaphosa takes a sip of water, hold the glass in the DA's directions and says: "Cheers!" "To your health!" responds DA chief whip Natasha Mazzone. @TeamNews24

— Jan Gerber (@gerbjan) February 18, 2021