Recall Zuma to end ANC clientelism

IAM compelled to respond to Professor Raymond Suttner’s “Why Zuma’s exit is not enough” (August 17). Yes, President Jacob Zuma must be recalled or dismissed, and this is long overdue. The ANC has lost ground in these local government elections because of the narrative that has been going on about Zuma since his rape case and Schabir Shaik scandals, for starters. Firing Zuma will be the great part of starting the process of correcting the mess and stopping the ransacking by Zuma’s long list of “clientelism” which has created a culture of internecine struggles in the ANC.

Its effects are seen through countless service delivery protests, where deployed cadres are prioritising corruption over proper service delivery to the communities they are supposed to add value to by changing people’s lives for the better.

Clientelism as practised by Zuma and others before him is an extensive chain of patron-client ties, army and military lieutenants, Umkhonto weSizwe veterans, rich families and so forth.

Through resources of patronage and personal loyalty, Zuma has strengthened himself in and outside the state.

Clientelism is primarily personal; unlike institutions, individual patronclient linkages are contingent on the persons in a relationship and ordinarily cannot outlast them.

A change of Zuma as a president will alter greatly both an existing clientelist pattern and the political fortunes of those entangled in it. Many members of the NEC are unwavering in supporting Zuma, for the reason of being beneficiaries on Zuma’s clientelism list.

Democratic institutions will have to change the way boards and key persons in those institutions are appointed. — Howard Mokoena, by e-mail

Go if you have ANC at heart

PLEASE tell the ANC to open its eyes and ears. People (ANC supporters) on the ground, everywhere, want President Jacob Zuma to step down, if he really has ANC interests at heart. — Comrade Sihle, by e-mail

Untie knot for mourners

“FAMILY’S fury over ‘search’ for lost hubby” (August 14) refers.

It is very sad when a honeymoon for a young couple turned out horribly — as in the case of Vhutshilo Malivhoho and her husband Livhuwani.

It is heartbreaking to learn that the Mozambican maritime authorities are not helping at all. If only the family could find the body and, according to tradition, find closure. — Fanga Frans Jood, Kuruman

Impending Doom for bees

“OUR busy bees lose their buzz” (August 14) refers. If the bee people are so concerned about the survival of bee colonies, it would help if they removed hives from suburban homes in Gauteng for less than the R500 to R750 they feel is OK.

I don’t mind mileage and a small charge . . . but I have had a few removed over the years. Once from a vacant barbet’s nest — a quick cut and drop into a black garbage bag cost R600. Small swarm on shrub branch: R500.

Swarm in letter box . . . my next option . . . Doom: R24. — John, by e-mail

Khwezi’s loud silence

“HEED women’s message about a president beyond shame” (August 14) refers. To add to Barney Mthombothi’s statement, we never knew Khwezi or whatever her name was before the incident, and perhaps we will never know or see her. There was a court case for the alleged rape which she did not win. Perhaps this explains the disappearance — or, let me say, leaves lots of questions unanswered. — Mbulelo Ngaba, by e-mail

Louche legacy that won’t lie

IT is right that we be reminded of the young woman who disappeared after that sordid episode. What life does she have now? And the violent reaction of the female ministers disgraces womanhood in our country.

But then, what should we care with a president, appointed by sycophants, who lurches around South Africa with the tattered shrouds of Marikana miners and Andries Tatane slung around his shoulders. — Nicki Holderness, by e-mail

Buddhists can teach us all

IT was admirable of Nathan Cheiman to come to the defence of the Christian faith (“No licence to mock faith”, Letters to the Editor, August 14) and castigate a cartoonist of his own faith for “being potentially insulting to Christians” when he depicted Jesus walking across Nelson Mandela Bay — hence fulfilling our president’s prophecy as to the timing of his return to earth.

It is perhaps time that as followers of whatever spiritual tradition — whether Christian, Hindu, Islamic or Jewish — we become less paranoid about the intentions of anybody who interprets such stories with less reverence than we believe they deserve. If we are well-grounded in our own faith, we should be able to be more tolerant. I have never heard of any Buddhist taking offence at similar irreverence in respect of their teachings; it may be a sign that we lack their admirable sense of compassion and tolerance. — Mario Compagnoni, Bedfordview

New wordsmith to savour

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed reading “Inside the lazy, deluded daze of the ‘blessed’ ” by Kwanele Ndlovu (August 14). You have a refreshing gem on your hands in this writer. — Sydney, by e-mail

Only way to nuke SABC rot

“‘GUPTA pal’ in R380m SABC licence-fee deal” (August 14) refers. Goodbye, Hlaudi, hello Aguma. The public broadcaster will be dogged by controversy until all proper legal procurement procedures are adopted and followed. All the president’s cronies are holding key positions in the broadcaster, allowing for all these shady transgressions and fraud. Clean up the SABC and get rid of all the thieves and thugs who were appointed without proper vetting and security clearances. — Fazel V, by e-mail

Students will spite selves

“STUDENTS gear up for new campus shutdown” (August 14) refers.

#VarsitiesWillFall with this attitude. Why should only students benefit? There are many other communities that still have to pay for things. Students must realise things cannot just be free. Universities will then eventually deteriorate and fall. — Baba Saloojee, Rustenburg