Zuma is but a man, a politician, and not beyond reproach

Ubaba (our father) must not be embarrassed. Ubaba cannot be spoken to by commoners who have nothing to offer.

Ubaba is the head of state and leader of the ANC - and no one will be allowed to change that.

This is how many in the ANC want President Jacob Zuma to be perceived and treated. They go to the ends of the earth to ensure that he is shielded from the opposition parties, which want him to answer difficult questions in parliament.

Tensions have been rising in parliament since August, when Julius Malema' s Economic Freedom Fighters fired the first salvo, demanding to know when Zuma will "Pay back the money", the millions taken from taxpayers and spent on his private Nkandla home.

The ANC needs to understand that being president comes with responsibilities and Ubaba needs to account to the nation.

He accepted the job of leading this nation and cannot choose the conditions under which the opposition can ask him questions.

As a leader, he should be brave enough to face his political opponents.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe yesterday said the attacks on Zuma were, in fact, aimed at the ANC.

"The target of these attacks is the ANC itself, hence the attack is now extended to the deputy president and the chairperson [of the party]."

We must ask Mantashe how difficult it is for Zuma to answer questions put to him. Heckling and shouting come with the job and the sooner Zuma and the ANC understand that the better.

Now that the "political deal" to bring normalcy to parliament has collapsed, the nation is again left in limbo and yearning for sound leadership to prevail.

Former president Nelson Mandela never saw himself as bigger that any of us. He was willing to bend over backwards to accommodate different views.

Where is that leadership today, Baba?