A portmanteau of the Afrikaans phrase “kak praat” (meaning “talking shit” or “nonsense talk”) and “marathon,” describing prolonged, unproductive government discussions or summits held in opulent settings
like luxury hotels with red carpets, gourmet catering, designer outfits, and champagne. These events drag on endlessly, generating hot air and photo ops but zero
time-bound, actionable outcomes. Often associated with South African
politics, especially the ANC’
s habit of staging such spectacles while real issues fester.
The president’s latest ‘national dialogue’ was just another kakpraatethon—
politicians yapping for days in five-star comfort, but not a
single deadline or plan to fix the potholes.