Partying ANC leaders must cease

THE ANC lost most of the metros in the recent local government elections because the party is presiding over an economic system that has thrived in creating a wide economic gap among black people.

This was said by Reverend Lekoloane Leburu, a member of the public.

“Actually, there is a very big gap between blacks and blacks, and I wonder why after 22 years [of democracy]? There are people who do not know what breakfast is when there are so many millionaires and billionaires in the country.”

Leburu said the current ANC leaders spent most of their time entertaining themselves. “Former president Nelson Mandela was working day and night as an old man, but ANC members are still celebrating the victory [over the apartheid government] after 22 years.

“Mandela’s followers have enough food and drinks that 80% of black South Africans do not have.”

Leburu said he was shocked that a party with a track record of assisting the masses was led by people with no track record. “This party (the DA) that collected most of the metros in the local government elections has a track record embedded in the apartheid system,” he said, adding the DA did not have a track record of addressing the needs of black people.

Leburu said the ANC lost the key metros because the majority of black people wanted to put an end to the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by ANC leaders at the expense of the poor.

“You cannot go on and celebrate for another 22 years when my children have to cross sewage that has spilt into my yard when they have to go to school and when many children sleep on an empty stomach.”

Jonathan Bongani said the country has not dealt with the land question.

“Land is everything, when you are talking about food we are talking about land, same applies to education and housing.”

Khaya Nkoane said a system should be devised which would result in the public directly nominating people who would become councillors, instead of political parties imposing candidates. “Business people all across the world will always have a say in politics,” he said.

Political analyst Dumisani Hlophe said one of the biggest problems post-1994 was not the absence of good policy, but the lack of good capacity to implement policies and punishing those who do not adhere to the policies.