How do we know politicians are lying? Their mouths are open. So Finance Minister Trevor Manuel knows better than business the costs to business of power failure?

And Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin instantly knew sabotage had caused the first Koeberg failure? And the president knew better than the doctors what HIV/AIDS is? Well done, Eskom, for recovering so quickly, but our politicians’ knee-jerk denialism that says all is well goes on and on. Our leaders may pretend they are giants of economics, nuclear technology and medicine, but in the real world the African National Congress is becoming another night of candles and a name for cronies.