Public debates right way to go

IF SOUTH Africa is to become the successful country we all desire, it is essential all contenders for leadership publicly debate each other.

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma says she will fight corruption, but these are empty words as she says nothing about the charges facing Jacob Zuma, nor the judicial commission of inquiry into state capture.

Cyril Ramaphosa is more vocal but gives the impression of walking on eggshells.

Mathews Phosa, an independent thinker and straight talker, is the most competent, capable and ethical of all the ANC contenders. We need him and the others to start debating each other as soon as possible.

The leaders of the opposition parties should also challenge the ANC front-runners to public debates. They must make it clear the next election will be fought on two issues: the economy and the commission of inquiry.

We are not fools. Even poor people can understand the Zuma faction’s economic policies will quickly destroy South Africa. Ramaphosa’s faction will continue the miserable economic growth of the past 24 years, widespread poverty and 27% unemployment. Modern economics is not rocket science, and there are models of successful economies.

Any demagogue haranguing audiences with failed economic policies can be easily exposed in public debates so that South Africans can be properly engaged and educated on the issues. Opposition parties must be brave. It should be easy to expose the many mistakes and failed policies of the ANC. For too long the ANC has relied on slogans, buzz words and vilification.

As far as the inquiry is concerned, opposition parties must make it clear it must be different from previous ANC inquiries, which dragged on, cost a fortune and achieved nothing. If the ANC thinks it will get away with another trick like that, the new government should appoint a commission with these attributes:

Modern economics is not rocket science

Brian Massey Joburg