The @bbc has a very unhealthy fixation with South Africa. They did a TV news report on coronavirus in SA and it was both bizarre and embarrassing. Someone promised the BBC an Ecuador type disaster, and the reporter sounded frustrated that there are no dead bodies in SA streets.

They did their report from Alex, of course, as the perfect backdrop to amplify their theory of impending doom and gloom. "The danger is the virus may be spreading undetected in overcrowded townships".

I mean???

The reporter acknowledges some of the steps SA has taken to fight this and that the president says it is working, but the BBC insist it's too early to tell. They offer no reason for that insistence. They just *know* it is not gonna be a happy ending.

It's not what they paid for.

It's also the embarrassment of it all. The UK with all its resources and a funded lockdown, is dealing with a rising number of deaths and infections, and it is projected it will have the highest number of fatalities in Europe. Yet, poor SA is winning. They are embarrassed.

That's not how they saw this panning out. They want their Ecuador in Africa. And it has to come from a country like South Africa - Interest from viewers, open media, functioning democracy. It would be hard to hide bodies or fix the numbers. Perfect for the story the BBC wants.