Oooooh Dan Plato is Just a Public Relations Disaster
Sunday at around 11.56 I heard the big bang. The one that was supposed to go off at exactly 12pm! “That’s a bit early,” I thought.
Turns out the powers that be – Dan Plato to be exact – decided to surprise the waiting crowds and news media by setting the explosion off early. According to them, at that exact moment all conditions were perfect.
As far as I could see, so was 3 and a half minutes later.
For the last week, Capetonians were warned to arrive early at their viewing points. And many did, even though it was cold and wet.
But this should not came as a surprise as it isn’t the first time the Mayor of Cape Town has amused us with his antics. Although he has only been in his position for about 18 months.
He’s managed to offend quite a few people.
Remember when he first became Mayor. He came with a sex scandal of sorts. Most of us good citizens of Cape Town who don’t read Die Son, a tabloid, knew anything about the scandal, until Dan Plato himself mentioned it. The Mayor denied the scandal and wanted to sue those responsible for publishing the claims.
This is Cape Town, South Africa. Not the US of A. We don’t care about sex scandals around these parts. Well, except if it involves religious leaders and rugby players.
Not only did Dan Plato want to sue people we don’t know, about things we don’t care about, he wanted to use our taxpayer money to do so.
Eventually the whole saga disappeared.
But not Dan Plato’s arrogance.
Next thing we know he’s giving news conferences wearing a yellow Bafana jersey. Not that unusual in itself as many other politicians were doing the same thing.
But he was doing it will aggravating citizens of this country and city. He firstly had open air toilets built in Khayelitsha and when residents took offense and demanded enclosures for their toilets, he had them removed.
He was quoted as saying that he had the toilets removed because the world’s news media were focussed on SA for the Soccer World Cup – in his Bafana t-shirt no less.
At least he hasn’t yet offended the taxi drivers. Yet. We can only pray.
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5 Responses to “Oooooh Dan Plato is Just a Public Relations Disaster”
By Claudine on Aug 23, 2010 | Reply
On the towers, it’s going to be really weird driving down that particular stretch of road and not seeing them dominate the skyline. What are they going to do with the land?
/as a sidenote….I see WP management is in discussions with the powers at the new stadium…
By Abigail Abrahams on Aug 25, 2010 | Reply
Yep, Claudine. And then the City of Cape Town had the audacity to be surprised when township residents weren’t ecstatic!
I heard on Cape Talk that WP rugby would not be moving to Green Point. Not sure what’s happening there. I’m very out of the loop with news these days with assignments up to my ears again.
Except I’ve heard we have matches at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday night with fan walk and all. Sounds exciting.
By Claudine on Aug 26, 2010 | Reply
I read an article on Iafrica but who knows. It’s not only the managment of WP who get to make the decision, there’s the cricket grounds, the 90 clubs or so that own Newlands (according to the Iafrica article). Oh to be in Cape Town for the season! It’s not the same watching them up here.
By Claudine on Aug 26, 2010 | Reply
Oh and on the open air toilets, when my fil retired a million years ago, he took his first ever holiday, to Eurpe. I think in Holland they had a groot nood and ended up using a public toilet on the pavement where everyone could see your face through the slit in the door…….
By Abigail Abrahams on Aug 30, 2010 | Reply
OMW! I can’t even imagine that open air toilet!