Our politicians are self-centred

IT IS outrageous that self-centred politicians continue to show disdain for the electorate. The recent behaviour of the ANC and DA underlines this.

The Gauteng ANC betrayed Joburg residents when it foiled a loan from the Development Bank of Southern Africa to the city, displaying sour grapes in that its machinations to get rid of DA mayor Mpho Phalatse had backfired. Thus, for the ANC, the money meant to benefit residents was irrelevant: party interests were paramount.

The loan had initially been negotiated by the ANC, but now that the

DA was back, it blocked it. The DA is also acting irrationally. It has argued former president Jacob Zuma should be jailed once again, after the Supreme Court ruled his parole was illegal. But even the court took into cognisance the possible consequences of such a move. We know what happened when Zuma was initially jailed. Also, what would it serve to send an 80-yearold man back to jail and risk the mayhem of last year? But the DA is looking for a pyrrhic victory: jail Zuma. It does not matter whether violence ensues.