Urge MPs to vote with their conscience Be wary of the pie-in-the-sky socialists Hope for similar zest for plight of poor

IT IS clear our country is deeply divided and now stands at a moral, political and economic crossroad. At such a time, we need a Parliament that demonstrates strong ethical leadership and exercises non-partisan oversight.

We urge members of Parliament to vote according to their conscience and to consider the common good, and not partisan interests, factional royalties and their political survival, when they vote in the pending motion of no confidence.

It is in the interest of the poor that South Africa grows into a nation where the electorate can hold MPs to account, and MPs can hold the president and ministers to account.

We call on the leaders of the ANC to listen with humility to the issues and concerns raised by those who march against the president. They should not be quick to dismiss genuine calls for executive accountability as racism and as an attack on radical economic transformation.

We also reiterate the call made by Archbishop Stephen Brislin on behalf of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference: “We respectfully remind President Zuma that he has been elected to serve all South Africans.

“It appears that he has lost the confidence of many of his own closest colleagues, as well as that of numerous civil society organisations.

“He should earnestly reconsider his position, and not be afraid to act with courage and humility in the nation’s best interests.” IN THE excitement of the antiZuma marches, it is easy to succumb to “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” syndrome, and forget that many groups and personalities in this temporary coalition would do more damage than even Jacob Zuma if they had the chance. I am referring to the SACP, Cosatu, Zwelinzima Vavi and columnists such as Ryland Fisher.

They are against Zuma because of his suspect behaviour, but also because he isn’t a socialist/ communist. They talk about housing, free education, social grants and job creation, all of which are impossible to attain without the right policies.

These policies are: privatising loss-making and corrupt stateowned companies, easing regulation and labour law, firing all cadres and employing technocrats on merit, and generally having business-friendly policies.

None of these pie-in-the-sky socialists acknowledge or know that the government can only spend the money it can borrow or raise from taxation, both dependent on a vibrant economy. Governments can’t create jobs except by overemployment in the public sector, while business can do so, if there is incentive to make money and keep a reasonable amount after tax.

Equally nonsensical is the fake “Radical Economic Transformation” , which is maybe a good slogan for the uneducated sheep in the ANCYL.

Which system of economics would you think is more likely to succeed – the orthodox one, or the radical one? LAST week’s protest was a really spirited event, with characteristic South African enthusiasm. All the passing cars, buses and taxis hooted. On every pavement, we all hoped for success. Everyone looked energetic, confident and happy. TV news was amazing, boosting my confidence that the president was bound to notice the message.

Then came the Weekend Argus on Saturday: Jaundiced Eye popped my bubble! However, I took the opportunity to study what columnist William SaundersonMeyer said about the ins and outs of the meanderings of that politically shrewd brain, sometimes irreverently decked with a showerhead by cartoonists.

I do agree with Mr SaundersonMeyer that one could be “sceptical about the motivation behind the sudden enthusiasm of the middle- class”. As one of these, I had to admit I don’t wish the rand to plunge and prices to rise. Yet, my gut feeling is that Jacob Zuma must go because he has never cared for the poor or for the unemployed.

Zuma does not care about grants, or decent houses for the poor and their vulnerability to deadly fires, and gangsters are seldom caught. Because of the total indifference of Zuma, the poor live a hazardous life.

Can we hope there will be an economic meltdown as a proof of Zuma’s error of firing the minister of finance? Can we hope for a day when the poor and the unemployed shout “It is enough!” on the pavements of South Africa?

And can we hope all of us will join them with characteristic South African zest and purpose?