The Citizen (KZN)

John needs Bulldog’s bite

- Cliff Buchler

New Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuise­n should learn from some of the choice quotes from Winston Churchill as he takes on the task of not only uniting the factions within the party, but comes up with solutions for SA’s crying needs.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it’s the courage to continue that counts.”

Steenhuise­n undoubtedl­y faces an uphill task. But, on the plus side, the ANC has shown its true colours of being incompeten­t and corrupt and no longer of any use to the black people who trusted it to end their struggle against poverty and unemployme­nt.

These people are desperate and crying out for help. They are awaiting the day for a change of government. For a saviour, if you will.

More’s the pity that Mmusi Maimane hadn’t heeded Churchill’s call. He clearly didn’t have the courage to continue within the only party that has a chance of shafting the ANC.

Together with Steenhuise­n, he could have added value to the DA’s efforts to save a nation ruined through crooked governance.

In parliament, Maimane proved his worth with evangelist­ic zeal and, together with Steenhuise­n, could have continued taking on the arrogance and complacenc­y of the governing party.

He should have heeded another Churchill gem: “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

Maimane still has the chance to make a comeback and stand up for the people of this land – whether or not in a leadership role.

The party as a whole could learn from this one: “I hold that government­s are meant to be, and must remain, the servants of the citizens; and can only be justified by preserving the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the homes and families of individual­s. The true right and power rest in the individual. He gives of his right and power to the state, expecting and requiring thereby in return to receive certain advantages and guarantees.”

Is this not the type of governance we all crave?

Steenhuise­n has the opportunit­y of appointing the right people for the job and addressing poverty with concrete and sustainabl­e plans.

A parting Bulldog shot: “If you’re going through hell [Steenhuise­n], keep going.”

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