Struggle politicians must allow competent leaders in

The narrow margin by which Cyril Ramaphosa won the presidential race is a false reflection of his popularity — but a clear indication of the division in the ANC. It is time struggle politicians allowed more competent people to run the country. People appointed to government positions must be thoroughly vetted. Anyone with a criminal record or lacking the proper qualifications should not be allowed to hold public office. During President Jacob Zuma’s reign, the mining industry shed 100 000 jobs, with another 100 000 likely to go in the next 10 years. This means two million people will suffer as a result. Hopefully, with Ramaphosa at the helm a change in mining policy could reverse the trend and reduce unemployment.

EV Rapiti, Cape Town

Does Cyril’s brigade have the balls?

Members of the ANC are so irrational and hateful of truth, logic and reason. It was refreshing to witness the defeat of NDZ — uBaba kaDuduzane’s last hope for escape.

But, as refreshing as it was, that victory needs to be kept in perspective. Ramaphosa has not solved South Africa’s problems, or made life easier for the top six leaders. He has not created lasting peace. He has not even guaranteed that our country will remain under the control of the ANC “proper”. This was a Pyrrhic victory. To give the people hope, the corrupt belong behind bars. Has the Ramaphosa brigade got the balls?

Arthur Parkies, Sebokeng

A plea for good governance

The citizens’ plea to the new ANC president. First, run this government honestly for the betterment of the country’s image and finances, uplift it by creating jobs, tackling land issues and urgently building RDP houses. Second, tackle the shambles in the Health Department and police. Third, tackle crime. Fourth, make labour more friendly for SMMEs and revisit the Mining Charter, because the mines are bleeding. Fifth, dump the corrupters. Six, put a SARS office in every council to control the corrupted councils’ finances. Seven, have a general election next year and, eight, get the best team to run our beloved country.

Farouk Saloojee, Rustenburg

ANC game is just not cricket

Howzat that a once-proud political party can fall from grace in just over two decades? How often do they have to be caught with their hands in the cookie jar before something is done? Our appeals for justice go unheard as they follow on with being offside.

ANC members have taken their eye off the ball and dropped the nation in the fertiliser. They are completely stumped and have run out of ideas of how to take our country forward. The party’s spin doctors should all get the boot for always being so wide of the mark.

There seem to be no boundaries when it comes to what they can do and they always get off the hook. They try to pull the wool over our eyes concerning their corruption and non-service delivery. Unemployment seems to be at the fourfront and serving the people has been hit for a six, over and over again.

For the taxpayer it feels like facing Dale Steyn without a helmet, box or pads. Ducks seem to dominate their scoreboard as they slip up regularly and miss the point. They need to be cut and driven out, but there is always extra cover for their actions. What a pity there is no one to umpire the situation and give them out, as what they are doing is just not cricket. Keith Chipiwa, Randburg

Steinhoff accounting not funny

The Business Times article “SA retailers abroad: buccaneers with burnt fingers” (December 17) lost its credibility with the caption under the image, which called Steinhoff’s lies and theft of investors’ money “novel accounting”. Either your business ethics standards are low or you do not understand the gravity of Markus Jooste’s conduct, which affects the world’s impression of South Africa. Those were illchosen words.

Pule Mohibidu, Johannesburg

Sell off the nonperforming SOEs

Duma Gqubule’s theory as expounded in “Spending, not austerity, is the way out of this economic crisis” (December 17) is nonsense. Reckless spending is the cause of our malaise: we cannot spend ourselves out of debt. Our national debt is at about 60% of revenue and interest payments need to be met, yet Gqubule looks to raiding the Public Investment Corporation for funds. That will lead to further disaster.

Gqubule fails to recognise that meaningful stimulus can only come from sound economics, freeing the economy of regulations and amending our labour laws, and improving the climate for foreign investment. He points out that during Thabo Mbeki’s presidency, employment improved and there was increasing investment in state-owned enterprises — yet there is little evidence they helped build the economy. On the contrary, parastatals have become a millstone around Treasury’s neck, with corruption costing the fiscus billions as it tries to keep SOEs afloat. Gqubule should suggest that the government rid itself of corruption, sell off nonperforming SOEs and elect leaders with vision. Then investment will start.

Ted O’Connor, Albertskroon

We want a local to play Barnard

It’s reported that Anant Singh is going to make a movie about Dr Christiaan Barnard — but will he use a South African actor?

Singh used a foreigner in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and there were more empty seats in the movie houses than for an F-grade Bollywood movie.

Zahir Danbar, Phoenix