You would expect seasoned commentators in the media who profess an affinity for free markets, liberalism and accountable democracy to be sticklers for good governance. Peter Bruce's "Oh poor, miserable, deluded me."
(November 18) in an edition where the page 1 headline was about Cyril Ramaphosa's dubious donation from Bosasa, where he calls for an enhanced mandate for Ramaphosa notwithstanding that the ANC is - by Bruce's own admission - fragmented and corrupt, is baffling.
This is the same Cyril who was elected secretary-general of the ANC in 1991 and has served the party dutifully and loyally through successive and often graft-ridden presidencies. He was rewarded with considerable wealth in lieu of succeeding Mandela as president - no doubt in return for some careful bankrolling of the party.
Bruce goes on to posit that the DA is moribund. Really? It governs the Western Cape and its metros in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Midvaal and Cape Town pretty well. Even if the DA offers a second-best solution to what Bruce might regard as optimal, it is far better than the ANC, and it's a liberal, free-market party that champions an open opportunity society for all.
Over the years he has consistently shown poor political judgment. As editor of the Financial Mail in the 1990s he backed Bantu Holomisa and the UDM, showing that he would rather back a fringe and largely irrelevant party than a real alternative to the ANC. Ahead of the last election, in 2014, he feigned outrage at the DA's campaign slogan against Zuma (of all people) and corruption, saying it was racist and he, as a result, did not know for whom he should vote.
Bruce puts forward the idea of Cyril as the reformer who needs a big mandate in order not to be forced into a coalition with the EFF. Yes, Cyril has made some moves to tackle the rot in state-owned enterprises (while injecting good money after bad into SAA), but the problem remains that the ANC is an organisation based on patronage and corruption.
Still, Bruce is of the view that Cyril's reform will accelerate if his mandate is large enough. The assumption that he will take on the big to-do list of laying off civil servants, cutting the cabinet, taking on the unions and turning around education and health seems like a pipe dream.
Then there's the little matter of expropriation without compensation.
This bromance between Bruce and the Buffalo is baffling, but it does speak to the inability of many to see the ANC for what it is and what it has become. Frog, water, boil - the mind boggles. - Ghaleb Cachalia, MP
MALEMA AND HIS PATHETIC RACISTS
There comes a time when one has to call a spade a spade.
Julius Malema and his bunch of cantankerous, disobedient, almost dishonourable and malicious misfits are nothing more than pathetic racists, lurking around for any opportunity to sow racial discord.
The latest attack on minister Pravin Gordhan and his daughter is reflective of the depths that the EFF will rummage, only so that their own possible "criminal" activity is sidestepped.
The attack on Gordhan and his daughter, especially with a racial slant, is an attack on all South Africans of Indian origin - and I for one will not remain silent in standing up for the rights of a people who are equal patriots of this country. - Narendh Ganesh, Durban North
IMPUNITY FOR THE PUNY
It must be wonderful to be a politician such as the loudmouthed Julius Malema.
However puny, you can act the neighbourhood bully. You can call people "bastards", repeatedly fling racial epithets at minority groups, and generally incite racial animosity.
Your parliamentary privilege and your phalanx of security goons shield you from repercussion, be it legal or physical.
In similar circumstances, us lesser mortals will either find ourselves appearing before human rights bodies, bundled into court - or picking our teeth up from the pavement.
- B Phillips, Rondebosch
COMMITTEE TAKES THE CAKE
I loved the piece by Hogarth, "Let them eat Maries" (November 18). Older readers like me might recall way back, in the dark days of apartheid, when the city council in Cape Town set up a very important and effective body, "The Biscuit Committee".
This committee was chaired by councillor Arthur Weinberg and was tasked with investigating the enormous expense of purchasing biscuits for tea time in the morning and the afternoon.
The committee ruled that the biscuits were to be cancelled, which caused a major uproar.
The more things change, the more they remain the same. - Michael Bagraim, Cape Town
THOROUGHLY TICKED OFF
I am one of those who is fuming about this year's allocation of tickets for the Cape Town Sevens, "Ticketing leaves operators at sixes and sevens" (November 18).
In previous years I was able to buy tickets at a reasonable price. This year, I was advised to apply through Computicket, which I did on September 3.
I had to wait until November 1 to hear from them, at which point Computicket advised me that I had been allocated 40 tickets at - wait for it! - R800 per ticket!
Needless to say, I will not take advantage of the offer.
What a scam! - Tom Ferreira, Cape Town..