Comments on: The five big mistakes that cost Mbeki the presidency

By: ozoneblue

ozoneblue — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:40:02 +0000

What a surprise ! The editor of the Times is another foaming at the mouth neoliberal that is obsessed with privatising everything, from electricity, water and air if they could get their way. No small wonder the ubiquitous media vendetta against Zuma and his left wing friends.

Erwin should in fact take the blame for not recapitalising ten years ago but instead, under the immense pressure to privatise at all costs form all the “business-friendly” Mbeki supporters , wasted time and energy trying to sell off to “BEE partners” those public utilities that belongs to all the people of South Africa.

By: mthokozisi

mthokozisi — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:20:08 +0000

Mr Mbeki did not do well for the poor cause they are still poor and the bills passed lately are stupid bills 14 year olds for abortion if they can decide to have *** abortion why are they not voting cause they are already taking decision. Those are young kids they should taught how not to have *** and how to use condoms and pregnancy prevention. But they are taught to have unprotected *** and then go for abortion. Privatisation has taken many peoples jobs cause these tenders are given to the few we all know that. Crime levels are alarming HIV and AIDS is always high even though we are always putting more money to it. The worse is unemployment is the main cause of crime cause half the poeple in prison have commited minor offences and they don’t have 50 rand bail or hundred rand bail because there is no money. poeple are unemployed
how does it happen that there are families that have jobs for every members of their families and there are families that does not even have one member working. since the begining of time spoornet, eskom, municipalities hospitals always had jobs for matriculants now they don’t have why because you must know someone before you get job.

By: Eli Jikelele

Eli Jikelele — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:08:30 +0000

Kreyhound,

We now know that Manuel is prepared to stay on. More importantly for me is who are we going to replace the negligently incompetent Alec Erwin with.

Unlike the rest of Africa, shortage of taxpayers’ funds is not the problem. How to spend it wisely and without it being siphoned off to family and friends remains the bigger problem.

We need competent project managers who can work within clearly defined rules of governance to deliver the badly needed services to the poorest of the poor.

Sadly, I have to admit that after 14 years, the government that I helped put into power have shown that their appointees just do not have the competencies to deliver. The time has come to move the whole country forward. And if it means appointing project managers of all the colours of the rainbow nation to achieve this, then that is what we need to do.

Project Managers should be appointed for two years and if they do not perform they should be fired. Those who perform well should have their contracts renewed for a second two year period.

In this way, we do not get into situations where “demographically challenged” citizens occupy seats in perpetuity – unless of course they deliver. Like that so-called coloured chap, Trevor Manuel.

What do you think?

By: kreyhound

kreyhound — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:31:25 +0000

I do fully agree with the above five points but now the most important thing is how to go forward and make sure tomorrow comes. Now that Manuel has resigned who is the suitable candidate…Is it a highly learned Black South African or White one or just a high flying ANC stalwart…someone will have to come up with a good decision here or the economy will be down the drain before everyone knows

By: Juno

Juno — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:51:13 +0000

A fantastic, incisive, thoughtful piece, Ray – congratulations on this summing-up of his term of office. You have condensed and crystallised all the whiffle-whaffle of the past few years into just a few succinct readable paragraphs.

Personally, I am aghast and infuriated that he has been booted out of his post. Even though I’ve loathed and despised some of his policies over the years, and even wanted to throttle him at times, I still don’t think he deserves to be kicked in the pants in such a disrespectful – and nakedly opportunistic – way.

@Outspoken: your race card is looking rather tattered and stained. How about you read Ray’s piece from beginning to end, with an open mind?

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:50:33 +0000

Welcome home Shabir Shaik. All is forgiven

By: Eli Jikelele

Eli Jikelele — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:54:49 +0000

Outspoken.

You are entitled to your opinion and take on the article. Much of what you say might be the truth but resorting to attacking the other person rather than his argument makes you and your case appear weak.

You have to learn how to be tolerant otherwise you are no better than the racist ******** who oppressed us for generations.

Sometimes, my brother, you can learn more by listening to others than trying to force your views on others.

By: outspoken

outspoken — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:23:45 +0000

how observant of you,but I must say I didn’t expect any less.The biggest problem we have in SA is narrow minded white people like you who write such nonsense only to fuel the irrational fears that white people already have.I will ask you one question, What have you done to create change in your beloved Vaderland.You complain of president Mbeki’s leadership and conveniently forget the significant gains SA has made under this mans leadership.when last have you writen a positive piece on him.You even stoop as low as belittling the signifcant gains made in Zim and other African countries.Let me give it to you straight,you are in the minority in this country and the decisions that are made are not necessarily meant to suite you.Let Africans fix their own problems.The piece you have written is more than infurating,hence I call it unsubstantiated nonsense.An opinion piece from what is essentailly a Europian with no or very little understanding of the African way of doing things.the most important thing tous African’s is respect. Your piece is littered with utterences of disrespect.If you are not willing to tow The African Line,return to your beloved Europe and leave us and our leadership alone. This is our home and instead of living our lives complainig about it we choose to make it work.

By: robbie rob

robbie rob — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:19:08 +0000

SA has gone to the dogs. imagine a cabinet with the likes of vavi, malema and blade. imagine vavi as the minister of trade and industry, malema as the minster responsible for justice and blade as the minister of finance. these guys r going to scare away investors with their boss jz as the helm.

By: Buhle

Buhle — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:53:27 +0000

It is sad that Mbeki has had to go. Obviously his first term was better than his second. What is scary is that we are replacing a poor performing thinking president to a gun toting, HIV risk taking womaniser macho president. No president in the world has satisfied everybody, but we are slowly moving to anarchy as far as I am concerned. I am a Zulu and I am ashamed to share tribal roots with such a man.