Smooth-talking Cyril ducks the Zuma issue

NO one could have articulated the decay of ANC politicians more honestly and sharply than Barney Mthombothi in “Politicians, including Ramaphosa, need to learn to apologise” (May 28).

Self-righteous Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is always generous with platitudes and slogans when it comes to campaigning for votes.

For example, in his address at the African Renaissance Conference in Durban last week, he spoke of Africans sowing “the seeds of Africa’s cultural revolution” and rooting “out the evils of poverty, unemployment and inequality”.

The macaronics flowed freely while he continued to support his party, the ANC, and failed to criticise President Jacob Zuma sufficiently for his delinquency.

The weekend exposé, “Here’s proof, Mr President”, may, in time, generate charges of treason against those involved, including the president.

Where will this end? In an implosion of our democratic country, or with another government that will try to pull South Africa out of its downward spiral? — Nathan Cheiman, Northcliff

Radical economic junk

FOR 23 years we have been waiting for the good life that the ANC cronies have enjoyed thanks to nepotism and the corrupt awarding of contracts.

Now even Ramaphosa supports this dumb “radical economic transformation” — a term I suspect was thought up by the Guptas.

And how do you change the economy “radically” when there is no economy to change?

In my layman’s understanding, the economy is junk, lost in the junk bin.

How do you change that? — Lindi Zantsi, Worcester

Running out of alphabet

I WAS wondering: if Generation Z applies to those born from 1996 to 2014, what do you call the generation born from 2015 to 2033? — Fritz Haeberli, Stellenbosch

System is seriously flawed

JAN-JAN Joubert’s article “Be careful what you wish for on a secret ballot” (May 28) on venal politicians who could be bought in secret voting underlines a serious flaw in the proportional representation system.

Members of parliament or provincial legislatures who are appointed by their party according to seats available to that party have no responsibility to their constituents. They owe loyalty only to their party.

And if their party starts questionable practices, they will have difficulty following their consciences.

Under this system a secret ballot enables “disloyalty” to the party, both by underhand gain for financial advantage as well as the ability to follow one’s conscience.

In a constituency-based system there is no need for a secret ballot. — Ted Fisher, Lonehill

Looking for some light relief

CAN we please add more comic strips in the newspaper?

Dilbert is too work-related and does not always appear in the paper.

We need comics that take the pressure off having to read doom and gloom. — Minnesh Rajcoomar, Sandown

Land reform can lift millions

I’M opposed to expropriation of land without compensation because it is ruinous and counterproductive.

Having said that, I would like to see the government moving swiftly in redressing past injustices concerning land.

Admittedly, Zimbabwe’s chaotic land-reform programme benefited the upper echelons of Zanu-PF more than the man in the street, but its ripple effect, however mild, lifted millions of people from the doldrums of poverty. — Costa, Mamelodi

Byleveld was a true hero

THANKS for a well-written article by Chris Barron on Piet Byleveld, “The pathetic, scrawny runt who brought down monsters” (May 28).

What a true hero. — Ayanda Nota, Cape Town

The ANC is the real problem

THE furore is about getting rid of Zuma — but our problems are far deeper than one man. We have, in fact, got to get rid of the ANC.

This once-proud organisation has been reduced to moral bankruptcy, unsuitable to carry us forward.

How much more will the ANC cost us?

There is only one way to sort out a whole lot of our problems and that is to vote them all out. — John Harwood, Somerset West

Sorry for your losses

AFTER 96 years the Students’ hunt for the elusive Absa Premiership accolade has been achieved.

While the mountain of Molotov falls short, Steve Komphela keeps licking his salty wounds.

The recurrence of Mr Comitis in the Cape resurrects memories of Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 arriving in the city of good hope.

For Orlando Pirates, the number six brings no music to their ears.

When sounds of intense silence entered Mamelodi, Pitso was jiggling his head listening to the song of the late Sfiso, Kulungile Baba.

While residents of Chloorkop scratch their heads, Baroka FC lives today to fight tomorrow.

My stomach growled sounds of hunger when a 2-2 draw sunk the Highlanders of Tembisa.

Condolences to their premiership status. I am thankful for all 480 PSL games. — Thapelo Molefe, Soweto

They believe in Buthelezi

IF there is one thing that the people of Nquthu have done — which is still echoing in the political hills and valleys of the South African landscape — it was voting with their conscience, as reported in “ANC fire power falls flat in Nquthu as IFP enjoys revival” (May 28).

In broad daylight, these voters told other political parties contesting the election that they believe in the leadership of Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, come rain, come lightning, come sunshine! —Mamorena Mokoena, Thokoza