Readers’ views
Responses to Letter from the editor, 16 March
This country requires a new breed of politicians who promote and uphold the highest possible standards in public life. Mbali Ntuli, Lindiwe Mazibuko, Songezo Zibi, Zackie Achmat and Mmusi Maimane are precisely what we need.
Jabu Mhlanga
This type of gathering reminds me of Davos, where “leaders” talk about concerns for the benefit of the media and a minority that take the trouble to follow the event. Very few of those who spoke on the podium at The Gathering make a practical difference to the lives of citizens. Instead of “leaders” peddling hope and visions for a better future, we need citizens like the farmer in Prieska who took the lead in establishing a medical centre, or the farmers in Bonnievale who built a school for the community. That is where real change starts.
André Pelser
Oh dear lord, are you guys still going on about DA leader John Steenhuisen’s horrible joke as the epitome of toxic masculinity? Priorities?
Karl Sittlinger
I like the quip about “needs a frontal lobotomy”. But what about a visit to a proctologist to check why they release so much BS?
Kanu Sukha
I was sitting front and centre at the event, and I agree with your assessment of the candidates. The final panel of the “Big Five” alternatives was disappointing – a bunch of macho men trying to outmanoeuvre each other and, quite frankly, scaring me at times. Meanwhile, the New
Blood panel was inspiring, with much more mature behaviour. I left the event planning to look deeper into Build One South Africa, in particular, as less than an hour is not enough to get a real sense of a party’s plans.
Thank you for putting on this event. It was thought-provoking, entertaining at times and inspiring at others, and I left even more committed to supporting Daily Maverick. Now how do we get Ntuli as president?
Dani Werner
Surely the recommendations of the Van Zyl Slabbert Commission of reverting to a “constituency representative” rather than the party cadre system of our parliamentary representatives would go a long way towards addressing the objectives of Ntuli, Mazibuko, Zibi, Achmat and Maimane?
For 2024 we need a coalition structured in line with the government of national unity after the 1994 elections. They must deliberate and structure the constituency representative system to be given effect in 2029 elections.