Social snobbery fails to hide ruling party’s inefficiencies
These factors primarily prevent a Zimbabwean-style political and military dictatorship from forming in South Africa.
EDITOR – Tommy Ackerman’s Snr vicious and personal attack on Councillor Andre Beetge’s private and political credibility reveals more about Mr Ackermans’s bias than about Mr Beetge’s performance as a councillor.
Can we detect just a whiff of social snobbery in the letter?
If Mr Beetge’s newsworthiness is purely for political gain, then he works very hard to earn his media coverage. I don’t know the name of another local councillor. Perhaps anonymity protects them from the unwanted attention of disgruntled voters in their wards?
The evidence of effectiveness of ANC-dominated municipalities is obvious to anyone who has sight: The slow, pervasive disintegration of towns and cities. It begins with the basics. Does it require rocket science and huge sums of money to keep pavements and open municipal land neat or fill potholes?
No indeed. But it does require discipline and accountability, which are sadly lacking.
Could South Africa become another Zimbabwe? I can hear a chorus of voices saying: ”No, never”. That attitude is deeply, deeply racist because it implies that South Africans are in some way superior to Zimbabweans. I have met many Zimbabweans living in South Africa and have found them decent, hardworking, cultural people who support an average of 10 people in Zimbabwe on what they earn in South Africa.
What prevents South Africa from slipping into the economic and social malady of Zimbabwe? Firstly it is the precious pearl of our Constitution; secondly it is the blessing of diversity: our tribal, racial, cultural and religious diversity; thirdly, the small, effective but street-wise opposition, and last but not least, the sincere prayers of the faithful of all religions.
These factors primarily prevent a Zimbabwean-style political and military dictatorship from forming in South Africa.
