Mike Moriarty, DA: Caiphus Kgosana's op-ed "DA on rough road to Pretoria" (July 22) refers.

The piece itself is factual and well-written. However, the argument for the subtitle "opposition hamstrung by history" is not evident anywhere in the article.

Could it be that your sub-editors are among a group that really would hate the DA to succeed in the project of establishing a truly multi-party democracy in a state in which the Constitution is sacrosanct?

Nobody says this task is easy. But some want to persuade others that it is impossible. Clearly, for them, a successful DA is unconscionable.

On that score, Steven Friedman really does take the biscuit. He thinks the DA's objective should be to remain a strong opposition but not aspire to challenge the ANC.

But a governing party has no real incentive to deliver to the people if it does not feel any threat of losing an election.

Rather than hoping for continued ANC governance, Friedman should devote more time to encouraging a more vocal and vigorous civil society.

If he doesn't like the people in the official opposition, then he should encourage others that he does like to become more involved, more vocal and more active in showing the DA how to challenge for power more effectively.