ANC split offers a ray of hope for future

AFTER the party’s recent national executive committee meeting, it is inconceivable that the antiZuma dissenters will be allowed to stay active in the ANC. They will be sidelined and may be expelled from the party.

However, these are activists, deeply concerned people who care for the values of the movement. They will not go quietly into retirement. They will fight, under a different flag if they have to, and they will get financial support to keep them viable.

It is most likely that the outcome of this NEC meeting will be a split. We can expect an “ANC Modern”, which will be home to the 100 veterans and their supporters.

The “ANC Original” can keep President Jacob Zuma and his parasites. They will wither and fade.

Urban ANC voters, those who withheld their votes this year, will feel comfortable voting for ANC Modern. Rural voters will stick stubbornly with ANC Original.

So 2019 will have a four-way election between the two ANCs, the DA and the EFF.

The DA and ANC Modern will be comfortable working together. It will lead to a merger and a government of national unity, which will be good for the country.

The EFF will have a choice: being a junior partner in a three-way merger or throwing in its lot with the old ANC. It will choose to be a junior partner.

In my scenario the unreconstructed ANC will die an electoral death and follow the PAC into oblivion.

What emerges is a government that values honesty and ability, that attacks corruption and nepotism, is unable to practise cadre deployment, and gives full rein to the principles and methods that will lead to a better life for all. Our future is bright! — Chris Taylor, via e-mail

Journalism at its best

I WAS hackles up when I saw the masthead of last week’s Sunday Times, promoting an article about Berlin fashion, “Saddled up in style in Berlin” (December 4).

I was thinking, phew, there are so many good fashion stories here in South Africa, and Mozambique Fashion Week starts this week, so why is the paper featuring what’s going on in Berlin, Germany?

Instead, a revelation when I turned to page 15 — journalism at its best.

Not only was Pearl Boshomane’s article about Berlin, South Africa, but what an amazing, unique and original story you discovered.

To not rewrite press releases or follow others, to dig as you did and come up with frankly one of the best and most uplifting stories, one that speaks of tradition and life! And Alan Eason’s photo of the boy clinging on for dear life is a classic.

You made my day. — Paul Tilsley, Johannesburg

Get Boks back to basics

THE Springboks need to work on their ball skills, including catching the ball at different heights and speeds, and they must focus on how to protect the ball when going to ground, “Boks: time for home truths” (December 4).

I suggest they employ Sherylle Calder to improve their peripheral vision. They need to know where their teammates and the opposition players are at all times.

Also, I think the coach should have chosen a younger team from the start and made it clear that he was building a new team. — D Marais, Linden

Allister falls short

I DARE to differ with Ronald Kock’s letter alleging a conspiracy in rugby (December 4). Your obsession with race blinds you to the serious shortcomings of Allister Coetzee as a coach. Look how good the Blitzbokke are! Why? Because they are superbly coached. — Terry Price, Port Elizabeth

South Africans aren’t stupid

THE people of South Africa are aware that our president is afraid of going to jail, so he will never voluntarily vacate his position — but what about his defenders?

Does it mean that if his former wife wins the ANC presidency, the ANC would have voted for continued corruption? This is the question that uncorrupted South Africans must ask.

Regarding the motives of the ANC Youth League: it is promoting a compromise candidate for a position — does this mean it is looking forward to milking the country’s resources through its recommended buddies, who are the buddies of the current president?

It is so obvious: Zuma supporters are interested in one thing only — they want their own Nkandlas, and they want to be captured so that they can live comfortably.

If the ANC thinks ordinary South African are stupid, let it wait until 2019. We cannot continue to vote for corruption and patronage. — D Vuma, Pretoria

Poor people want news, too

AS I write this e-mail in my RDP house whose roof is leaking, I am thankful that I picked up an old copy of your newspaper along the road side. I have found profound, powerful and eye-opening stuff.

In South Africa we have many challenges, but the biggest of them all is racism. When someone is racist, they do not realise that they are teaching the other person to be racist as well.

Often, we push the sword of racism in silently, killing the person emotionally.

Because we are not using harsh racist words, we want the world to think we are not racist, yet our actions prove us wrong.

Some newspapers are so expensive that they can never be read by someone in the rural areas. Yet these papers are edited by intellectuals who can teach millions of poor South Africans.

These newspapers cost more than we can afford. Poor people need newspapers as well. They can change our lives and mentality. — Bheki Wiseman Goqo, Verulam