Residents need true leadership

The ousting of the mayor [Mongameli Bobani] of our city climaxes the turbulence in this part of the country, which our leaders can ill-afford, and more so the residents, for it appears in all intents and purposes to be horse-trading.

And who can be pliable to do the bidding of the bidders who would not show their true colours but pulled the strings to the detriment of a city with potential, to challenge the long-standing anomaly of SA continuing to be a “Tale of Three Cities ”— that of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

This cannot be allowed to continue, for even when it is said this city and province are economically depressed, the previously favoured residents are hardly affected by this but the previously disadvantaged in townships and rural places are.

The strong message that SA needs a saviour or Superman/woman to rescue or lead us may be true.

A leader of courage, integrity, who promotes unity, can surely steer this ship out of troubled waters to calmer seas.

While we are still in deep waters, it is not the time to weigh anchor but all hands on deck are required, though some need to be made to walk the plank to the Davey Jones Locker of the political ocean.

At the risk of pre-empting or even favouring certain people over others, one cannot help to say that some leaders need to be considered, no matter what political affiliation they have.

Our city cannot continue being the Cinderella of this socalled democratic country, otherwise it will be a classic case of “in the abundance of water the fool is thirsty”, as the legendary Reggae exponent Bob Marley sang.

Or as Tolstoy (of War and Peace) said “can it be that there is not room for all men on this beautiful earth under these measurable starry heavens?”

Paraphrasing Tolstoy — Names of value add, and outstanding pedigree even, but not celebrity and euphoria over level-headedness ... not a careerist or a person in the sunset of life, but a true leader with passion, devoid of hatred, vengeance, or the desire to exclude others, one who can endure in the souls of NMB residents.