I suddenly realised that what we said and did during the Covid pandemic was only going to be judged over a 10-year period. I think the same might apply to how our government responds to what seems to be the demands of the Trump administration.

There was a terrible moment during the Covid pandemic when I felt that every time I went to sleep, I would wake up to check my WhatsApp and find out that someone I knew, had spoken to or interviewed had passed away.

My memories of that time, a time we hardly speak about in public any more, are incredibly intense. Just thinking of it now, in a room surrounded by people I know at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Winter Dialogue, still makes me feel quite alone -- chilled almost.

This peaked at the same time as the arguments about vaccines. Time and again I found myself arguing with people about science, about double-blind trial studies, and warning time and again that you should not trust what you see on YouTube.

Early one morning in 2021, after putting aside my WhatsApp with a sigh, I had a minor epiphany.

It was very important, no matter what...