President Jacob Zuma could have spared the nation and the families of the Marikana shooting victims much pain by suspending the police commissioner long before yesterday. Though we welcome the steps Zuma has now taken to deal with the tragedy, the delay in suspending Riah Phiyega was time wasted.Marikana required swift action from the government and its dithering and procrastination sent a message that those who died were not worthy of official sympathy.Laws should be applied, but there are extraordinary events that require leadership.This country should adopt a mantra that requires those in positions of responsibility in government and the private sector to own up and step aside when wrong things happen on their watch.We could have been spared the pain if Phiyega had voluntarily decided to step aside until an inquiry into the Marikana disaster was complete. This would have sent a message that she had taken ownership of the issue as head of police.But we had to wait three years.It should all have happened much earlier.Zuma, his administration and the ruling party need to think hard about how they want to govern this country.Even with a court verdict yesterday that John Block, ANC chairman in Northern Cape, is guilty of corruption, it remains to be seen if he will step down from his position or whether he, too, will act as if nothing serious has happened.We hope the ANC will deliver on its promise to act against corruption in the party.At its national general council meeting at the weekend, the party proclaimed that it would give its integrity committee teeth.Zuma made it clear that any member in a prominent position suspected or linked to criminal activity or general bad behaviour would be forced to step aside while the committee investigated. Thus far, just words.Phiyega, Block and many others should have been forced to step aside long ago...