Newly bold Ramaphosa’s day has come
FINALLY, now that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has come out of his shell, ANC branches should seriously consider electing him as their leader in December.
A vote for him will dispel the belief that ethnicity plays a role in the ANC, and opposition parties will have serious difficulty in criticising him.
This will conform to the ANC’s unwritten practice of allowing an untainted deputy to lead the party. Also, Ramaphosa is better suited to unite the ANC.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has no claim to the presidency and an attempt to parachute her in by virtue of her being a woman could be fatal for the ANC.
If Ramaphosa’s supporters launch a new party, which might garner about 10% of the vote if one considers the performance of COPE in 2009 and the EFF in 2014, the ANC runs the risk of obtaining less than the 50% required to govern the country.
An ill-informed vote for DlaminiZuma will provide much-needed ammunition to the opposition in 2019, which will create the impression that she is a proxy for Zuma’s presidency or an attempt to create a Zuma dynasty.
ANC members must wake up from their slumber and notice that voters are becoming wiser day by day and that they will be more amenable to a Ramaphosa presidency than that of Dlamini-Zuma. — Geoffrey Ngonyama, Kempton Park
Shame on king’s excess
FIRST Nkandla, now Nongoma, as reported in “King’s R1bn palace splurge” (May 21) — what a disgusting waste of money!
A year ago, a census by the Human Sciences Research Council reported that there were some 4 000 homeless people in Durban alone — and despite the Zulu royal house being “shocked” by the cost, our king insists the work will go ahead.
How is it possible for this sort of thing to happen when there are so many poor and suffering people?
King Goodwill Zwelithini should be ashamed! — NB Wynne Cole, Durban
Small in the royal ranks
YOUR report on the Zulu cultural precinct got me thinking.
Do you want to do a cost comparison with other royal houses, especially the ones in Europe — to ensure objectivity? —Legasa Mathabathe, Centurion
Barney is spot on
HANDS off Barney Mthombothi please, letter writer Jack Nkutha (May 21). No, everyone doesn’t know how corrupt the ANC is.
All columnists have their unique vocabulary and I find Barney to be succinct without being pompous.
Every paper in the world dissects the politics of the incumbent government, so why should Barney be any different? If I wish to read about knitting and recipes, I’ll find that elsewhere in the edition.
Tell President Jacob Zuma and company to change their shenanigans and you will no doubt find that Barney will alter his subject matter. — Topsy Hunt, Melkbosstrand
Children also victims
REGARDING last Sunday’s reports on the many lives lost to violence against women, please look at reporting on the many kids that have also been lost to domestic violence and revenge attacks on spouses/girlfriends in this country.
I don’t even think the police keep the correct stats on this.
The police are made aware of many such cases, but not all, due to apathy.
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula needs to be made aware of this.
I hope you will look further into this dire situation. — Lisa, Edenvale
‘Revenge bodies’ unrealistic
YOUR article, “Scorned beauties hit back at exes with revenge bodies” (May 21), promotes body image or outward appearance as the only weapon women can use to deal with the heartbreak of a tough break-up.
While this article may have been meant as light-hearted, how many of your woman readers interpreted it this way?
Your writer says that “whatever motivates you to achieve a healthier body and mind is good”.
I disagree: it is not good when part of your motivation is seeking the attention of an ex-partner and his current girlfriend.
Generation of doers
IN reference to “Make way for Generation Z” (May 21): as a person born in 1995 (Generation Y or millennial) and who grew up in a rural area, I faced different challenges, as I was raised by my grandmother. We were not exposed to many things, including technology.
We face different challenges, because there are many of us who went to varsities but we are still unemployed.
I have a BA degree in environmental management, and it is very hard to find a job even when you are educated.
We have to find ways of having our own businesses, although it becomes very hard because of our economic status.
Nonetheless, I still believe we are lucky to be in this generation; what we want to achieve is up to us.
I want to say to anyone who grew up in rural areas: it’s not about where you grew up, it’s about what you want in life. You can achieve anything that you want. — TV Shinga, Durban
The writer says “revenge body” is a fitness trend and uses Khloé Kardashian as a successful example. Her body should never be used as an image of health and fitness — she is a poster child for excessive and very expensive plastic surgery, not accessible to most of your readers.
Women are bombarded with images and messages of what an attractive, ideal body should be.
This leads to a negative body image, eating disorders and feelings of anxiety and inadequacy. —Vuyokazi November, Port Elizabeth
Black capital’s opportunity
REGARDING the decision of General Motors to disinvest from South Africa, I hope that as white monopoly capital is moving out, the Gupta monopoly will be able to absorb the thousands that will lose their jobs.
Duduzane Zuma, surely, will also be able to give them jobs as he is nothing but black monopoly capital. — Lindi Zantsi, Worcester
Close, but Noah cigar
YOU write a whole article on Generation Z and you couldn’t fit Trevor Noah into your prestigious list of Generation Y? Really? — Nkosana Moyo, Johannesburg
A master’s in dishonesty
A CERTAIN Jacob graduated magna cum laude from the University of Guptanomics, it was confirmed by his Saxonwold office.
He portrayed a buoyant figure and giggled uncontrollably when giving the press a glimpse of his certified results: obstruction of justice A+; state capture A+; pillaging A+; constitutional breaches A+; and accountability must fall A+. Sources close to him say that his capture price tag has now risen significantly. — Sipho K Chipiwa, Randburg