THE NEXT 10 YEARS WILL BE CRITICAL FOR SA

RECALLING President Jacob Zuma will make no difference. The problem is not with one man or even the national executive committee (NEC). It is with the paradigm, culture, policies, systems, values and beliefs of the ANC.

Zuma and the million cadres, tenderpreneurs, contractors, sub-contractors, parasites and leeches are all party to the ideology of communism, patronage, entitlement, quotas, cadre deployment, theft, bribery, corruption, tenderpreneurism and nepotism. It started with Thabo Mbeki, who prevented Eskom from building more power stations; replaced a tried-and-tested education system; indirectly caused the deaths of people with his stand on ARVs; and propped up Bob Mugabe. Mbeki, who was incompetent but not a thief, was replaced by Zuma. I don’t need to list Zuma’s sins.

There is no way the ANC will reform in a real way. There will have to be a formation of some other party on the left which is strict about crime, corruption, theft, mismanagement, waste and maladministration. Such a body does not exist yet.

Black voters are increasingly seeing through the lies of the ANC propaganda – that the “white” DA will protect white interests. The face of the DA is increasingly becoming black and represented by people like Mmusi Maimane, Herman Mashaba, Solly Msimanga and Phumzile van Damme.

The next 10 years will be critical to South Africa’s development.

Naushad Omar

AN OPEN letter to the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane; mayor of Joburg, Herman Mashaba; and member of the mayoral committee – environment and infrastructure services, Anthony Sill:

There are reports that the government is entertaining fracking as it will be very lucrative. That may be so, but it will not go to uplift the poor. It will rather go to uplift the “uplifted” people.

South Africa is mostly water-poor and we need to do all in our power to preserve this most vital of resources. Fracking will irrevocably destroy our water supplies. Recently the residents in Gauteng were hit with severe water restrictions due to the rapidly depleting water supply in the Vaal Dam. But what measures have been put in place to curb the massive use and pol- lution of water by business and industry? The government can, in collaboration with business and industry, create jobs in water purification and preservation, which will be a win-win – everyone can work together, our country can be preserved and jobs can be created.

Deena van Niekerk

WHILE many have raised objections regarding current Shoprite chief executive Whitey Basson’s R50 million salary and his R50m bonus, one must step aside and consider the role he and Shoprite have played in changing the retail landscape and employment opportunities in the country.

Basson, a qualified chartered accountant, began running eight supermarkets in 1979 under the brand Shoprite.

The grocery landscape at the time was dominated by the likes of OK Bazaars, Hyperama, Checkers and the up-and-coming Pick n Pay. Shoprite had no chance against these giants but Basson quit a CA job with a steady income.

Fast-forward to today, Shoprite has 1 855 company-owned stores, a phenomenal warehouse and distribution network. Like the superhero of global retail, Sam Walton (of Walmart) who targeted rural areas, Shoprite moved into Africa and lower-income areas way before their major competitors. It is manned by 138 000 employees operating in 15 countries and is still growing.

Shoprite’s success is a team effort, with everyone putting in their best. But you need a captain, and the captain of this ship is Whitey Basson.

If you create and manage a group of 138 000 employees, I wonder what pay cheque would you ask for?

When all is said and done, Basson does deserve a pat on the back and a good pay cheque, the only question being how good that pay cheque is.

Muhammad Omar