Party-member relations must not be overlooked in politics

I HAVE watched the political space with keen interest, especially with regard to removing the president from his position.

While there are major flaws in how the president conducts the affairs of state, from policy to finances, there are also imperative issues of principle that ANC members cannot afford to overlook.

There is an employer-employee relationship issue at hand and party-member issues also need to be looked at.

No-one is tied tightly to any political party. Everyone has a choice of leaving a party, as and when they feel it no longer resonates with their principles and values.

So if some party members no longer have respect for their party, the honourable thing to do is quit the party and join one that better serves his or her interests.

We also know that those in parly serve the nation at the behest of the president and, in this regard, he is then the employer (of course as head of the state).

In a situation where one is unhappy with one’s employer, one must leave that job and look for alternative employment.

It is unheard of that an employee would seek to topple an employer and if an employer recognised this anomaly, what would be the course of action?

In my view, that represents a breakdown in the relationship and the situation becomes untenable.

There is an ethical question that the ANC MPS who voted for the removal of the president should answer: is it in accordance with high ethical standards that on the one side you continue benefiting from a state salary through the ANC, with all the related benefits, while you no longer share its values?

How can you continue to benefit from that which you no longer want?

I believe any employer would want to have trusted employees in his team. If this proves to be a problem, then that relationship has to come to and end.

If those who no longer want the president to lead them as ANC MPS, I believe resignation is the ethical thing to do.

Lastly, any politician, whether in the ruling party or opposition, should worry once they get quoted as a favourite by the opposing parties. This should cause some discomfort and should propel a reflection of one’s standing in politics.

Having said that, my personal view is that Cyril Ramaphosa is not a trustworthy cadre of the ANC and, as such, he is not in a position to stand for a position in an organisation that he even considered betraying.

Toe the party line (as is the case with all political parties) or resign: it’s the right thing to do. ZAMA MALOTE

Pretoria WHILE Julius Malema, the marriage partner of the DA, spews rhetoric about Indians, the DA’S silence is deafening.

Malema’s incendiary speech at the EFF’S birthday celebration at Curries Fountain about Indians exploiting black workers by paying them a pittance or giving them food parcels in lieu of wages, suggests that we could expect more of the same.

The DA, which begged for the Indian vote during last year’s local government elections, forgot that the people who supported the party were in the firing line of a rabblerouser who was sowing discord and disharmony between blacks and Indians.

Why the silence, DA? Why are Malema’s statements not challenged with the same enthusiasm as the pursuit of President Jacob Zuma?

Haniff Hoosen, the DA’S mayoral candidate for ethekwini in last year’s local government elections, boasted a secure environment for Indians. Where is he now?

And while the Indian community lent support to the DA in the elections, on a large scale, the DA’S silence on matters that require its attention is a gross betrayal of its election promises. RAKSHA PRITHIPAUL

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