Why?

What is your opinion on the state of our Nation? It is time WE start talking about and creating the country that we live in and love. Let's start discussing our country from our point of view, the people who live here


Monday, August 8, 2011

The Sunday Times has got it wrong

The Sunday Times this week has got it wrong!

Two main articles this week caught my attention. The first being the front-page story titled ‘Malema on the ropes’ (Sunday Times, 7th August 2011). The article relates how Julius Malema, the President of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), has crossed the line with his reference to overthrowing the government of Botswana. The article then adds that the African National Congress (ANC) is planning on coming down hard on him for his embarrasing statements. The article was well written, informative and well researched, but nothing new, we have heard this all before.

The second was an article in the opinion section, written by ANC stalwart and National Executive Committee member ‘Cyril Ramaphosa’ titled: ‘Let’s mine, not undermine’. Ramaphosa explains that the ANCYL have a very good point in wanting a solution to our rampant poverty and unemployment but argues that nationalisation is not the answer they are looking for. He acknowledges that mines have exploited the poor and he challenges the mines to find long-term solutions to the plight of the poor and re-invest the billions that they are making into real benefits for the poor. He believes that the ANCYL and the mines have the potential to work together and plot a new trajectory for South Africa’s economic growth. Please do yourself a favour and read the article (http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/commentary/2011/08/07/let-s-mine-not-undermine).

He has clearly, intelligently and thoughtfully provided a solution to a potentially explosive situation and through his article Ramaphosa gives our country something that we desperately need: leadership. Rather than choose sides and deride the opponent, Ramaphosa has seen that a new way forward needs to be plotted if we are going to get anywhere as a country. He also knows that the only way we will succeed is if seeming enemies can find a way to work together.

What the Sunday Times got wrong was to mix up the order of importance of the stories; Ramaphosa’s conciliatory article should have been their front-page headline, pointing the nation in a positive direction. The confrontational statements of Malema should have been tucked away where they belong, far from sight.
What do you think?