DA’s political spat – pass the popcorn and the draught lager
REGARDING the Helen Zille affair, I see no sign that this is a gang of blacks attacking the white madam (despite the ignorant speculation of uninformed commentators). It smells to me of blacks fronting for white business and politicians.
Is it possible that the woman has been too successful in the Western Cape and Cape Town, and therefore some of the fools and charlatans populating the DA upper echelons believe that they can easily step into her sensible shoes without losing much support in the next election?
Also, perhaps she hoped to push the ANC into a minority position in Gauteng and then stitch a fragile coalition together in the Cape Town vein, making her indispensable to hold that coalition together (for nobody else in the DA leadership could manage such a difficult task) but since Gauteng stubbornly refuses to throw itself into the white right-wingers’ arms, Zille now finds herself without much of a role in her party.
And, of course, people like Jack Bloom and Athol Trollip have never forgiven Zille for her gender.
Of course, if Zille is kicked out, the DA will tear itself to pieces in a series of internecine squabbles that will make the post-Polokwane holocaust in the tripartite alliance look like the “peace that passeth all understanding”.
But it does seem that some of the numbskulls in leadership positions in the DA – many of the younger ones, after all, have no experience of the real world and have passed straight from fantasy MBAs into fantasy political appointments – do not realize this, or do not care.
Pass the popcorn and the draught lager. — Mathew Blatchford, Alice
ANC shields looters
WHEN the Daily Dispatch first reported on Eastern Cape Development Corporation having paid thousands into the Sokwali company, the provincial treasury was quick to close ranks over the scandal.
Later ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane entered the fray and accused the premier and economics MEC Mcebisi Jonas of being quiet on the ECDC matter, while he knew very well that their space had been was opportunistically grabbed by the provincial treasury.
Mabuyane himself kept quiet on (Buffalo City regional secretary Phumlani) Mkolo’s clear involvement in the Nelson Mandela taxi memorial scandal in Buffalo City.
Now Mabuyane is dragging the ANC into an individual and personal matter of the finance MEC and ANC provincial chair, Phumulo Masualle, and the state (Masualle having had R250 000 in his personal bank account).
We have been waiting for these ANC leaders to defend the people and take the lead in calling for the arrest of those who looted using our former statesman’s name. Now instead, it would seem that they are shielding the looters.
When leaders want us to believe that it was right to loot in the Madiba memorial, we should wonder who else benefited in Madiba’s good name.
As for the Masualle lobbyists who say President Jacob Zuma will make them his friends, this is a dirty mafia lobbying and it is symptomatic of the kind of cliques that will come under Masualle.
We dare not criticise them lest we become their foes. — Silumko Bushula, Auwusa treasurer
Moral duty to grow
IT SEEMS South African politicians are playing patriotic games. Everyone is claiming to be the most eligible leader when it comes to taking the socio-economic environment to another level.
The parties that campaigned in the elections all promised the poverty-ridden people a better future. Is there any chance of success with one party leading, or does this require a collective effort by all concerned citizens to achieve the eradication of the scourges that have deprived black people of a better life?
Is there a party with a clear policy and the will to implement efficient service delivery to the communities in need and to effectively employ the Employment Equity Act to capacitate and empower the youth?
There are parties that have managed to acquire some seats in parliament that should be the voice of reason for the masses who are despondent.
Instead they continue with critical attacks to sabotage the ruling party.
Mzantzi is in need of a multilateral political momentum in pursuit of socio-economic balance for all citizens.
A moral obligation should inspire all parties, and members of the public and private sector, to aim for the growth and sustainability of our economy – together as one nation ( iSizwe Sethu). — Sizwe Mda, Grahamstown
Delay ramps up risk
SUPPORT given by the international community for the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram is immense and indicative of how human rights are valued globally.
The kidnapping of Nigerian girls is painful and frustrating, particularly for the affected parents.
Dilly-dallying on this matter may result in serious harm to the girls.
It is apparent that confronting the Boko Haram militarily will be too risky. What is crucial is that Nigeria needs their intelligence to assess the situation and engage meaningfully with Boko Haram.
Even if they comply with the demands in order to save lives.
After these girls have been rescued, the government will have to beef up its security and fight and arrest these enemies.
Prolonging this impasse is both risky and farcical. — Nyameko Mtyingili, Queenstown