Ramaphosa has been last straw that broke the camel of hope’s back

AS PAINFUL as it is, I am compelled to agree with T Markandan of Kloof (Daily News, October 19) that he “has lost all respect for Ramaphosa”.

When he came to power, his brilliance as a well-respected, feared trade unionist and his contribution to the agreements leading up to 1994 were prominent on his CV.

His business savvy meant we had a president who did not need to continue the personal corruption of those before him. He did not need taxpayers’ money to live beyond his means. As he walked along the promenade in Sea point, I saw him as a leader with his feet on the ground, not realising that his head was in the ANC unity cloud – one that has diminished his views and policies to a narrow-minded nightmare. While ex-president Zuma was playing a masterful game of chess seemingly to benefit himself and those attracted to his charismatic character to the detriment of South Africa, he was check-mated by our current president, who seems to enjoy playing snakes and ladders with the lives of the nation.

There is absolutely no evidence of moral courage nor taking timeous and correcting decisions, no effort to hasten processes that could lead to “a better life for all”. Instead, it is now common cause to ponder who actually gives him instructions, who or what seems to have castrated his ability to do what is right.

The true measure of a successful country is one where family is important. He has failed to bring families together, separating breadwinners from caregivers by not doing enough to stimulate local economies where families can live together. He has failed to address the utter disaster of affirmative action, which has benefited so few and chased so much human capital out of SA, leaving a parental generation devoid of the joy of family close by.

President de Klerk used his legal mind to allow the transfer to majority rule and President Mandela to bring peace and hope. President Ramaphosa, with his legal mind, has been the straw that broke the camel of hope’s back. Whether you retain the presidency or not matters not to me at all, and I am convinced I’m not alone in this thinking.

G COMINOS | Glen Anil