Comments on: Africa deserves better leaders

By: Gee gee

Gee gee — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:58:07 +0000

I don’t know hey….. but i think at the moment we are leaderless so to say. Zuma doesn’t lead but please!!! Mbeki tried to lead but he got power drunk!! Mandela’s presidency was based more on emotions than ideals, infact Mbeki was a defacto president!!! Julius is promising to be that person but he is still trying to find his feet, from the lynch mob of Polokwane hi is still the the one who hasn’t conformed, he still bark at everyone regardless of who you are. I wonder if Hani could have fared any better!!

By: Phemelo

Phemelo — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:54:51 +0000

Dear Sandile
You again!
I think it is about time you seriously consider leaving this blog seeing a majority of bloggers are not interested in reality.JJ attacks you instead of debating the issue,for instance.Are people aware that since Ghana got its independednce in 1957 no other country whatsoever became an African state.We all became nation states meaning we had to accomodate the coloniser and become his landlord whilst he controlled the purse from Europe.How do you explain section 25 of our constitution which does not allow the Afrikan to take back his land which was violently taken since 1652?If you have land all the minerals and produce is in your control.
Seeing that we are all nation states,most of the economies are controlled by the descendants of the colonisers.We are then left with governing a continent and hoping to make money from government tenders and state parastatals.In my eyes that’s bread crumbs compared to gold,diamonds,platinum,etc in very few hands of the descendants of the colonisers.

All this will then amount to the few Afrikans who have “made” it to think and internalise life like their colonial masters.That, bloggers is what Sandile is trying to bring forth and yet are too colonised to see.We should rather expand the discussion and really question the continuous persecution of JZ and his cabinet which deserve those car perks?Few questioned Mbeki on cars.

By: tsepang

tsepang — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:02:43 +0000

Well I would nt say i desagree actually i am asking my self this question that with so much intellect we seem to be struggling for leadership and it only comes to the kind of society we have because the kind of leaders tell the kind of society they lead because society should put a demand on its leaders.

By: old, female

old, female — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:11:47 +0000

Quenton/Alan – Those of us born & bred Safs love our country with passion and seek to be proud of our nation.

We were the pariahs of the world and now we are the laughing stock and the “most of” everything that is considered undesirable.
Botswana is the country I wish my 3 generations descendants would emigrate to but refuse to leave.
You have to be the descendant of generations to understand why we endure, mired in “shame” yet do not leave the sinking ship.
Its the land of our forefathers who tamed the bush and wild animals.
One is ashamed of the black sheep family members but still love and endure them. “Love” has its limits too.
One lives and dies in hope or merely succumbs.
A special breed of patriotism with head in the sand.

The fortunate leave their home to its own decay as its anticipated destiny. RSA has peaked and is now sliding into the abyss.

By: DY

DY — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:19:44 +0000

Dear Sandile,
I think you forgot to mention one very important leader in Africa President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea. Totally selfless, civic servant most of his life, refuses the crippling foreign aid, working hard to make the country self-reliant and so on. In fact Some African leaders are taking him as role model nowadays exposing neocolonialism. Evidently Aid institutions don’t like him for a purpose; they have been trying to demonize him with no luck.

By: JJ Tabane

JJ Tabane — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:19:10 +0000

You almost had my attentin untid you brought Zuma in strangely. We all know that he is not the role model of the African Leadership that this continent requires…you know this very well and during your journalist days you reminded all of us about the type of leaderrship that the ANC truly is – that has since not changed. What has changed is your profession – and that seems to be rubbing off the truth.

Otherwise good article.

Onkgopotse

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:23:32 +0000

Thanks, Sandile. This was thought-provoking. I think the debate here – and, I guess, the debate you hoped to stimulate – is not just about the qualities of the people in charge, but also about “what makes a great leader?”. What did Mandela have that Mbeki didn’t? Whatever it is, I think Jacob Zuma has it, or has the potential to have it, for he has the rare quality of reaching out to people on a personal level and gaining their admiration. People like him. People need to like, admire and have confidence in a leader, don’t they? Should a leader be compassionate? Courageous? More importantly, is a person a leader merely because he or she holds high office, or do leaders have to “prove” themselves and their leadership qualities? What do others think? What di we want in a leader?
One concern, though, Sandile. I don’t think your last sentence is either hateful or a dig, just inexplicable. What exactly do you mean by “the expectations of former colonialists” and which of our leaders is living up to or imitating them? Please explain.

By: A.K.Singh

A.K.Singh — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:59:21 +0000

Excellent article. I like your forthright and candid comments – it is only through robust debate that we can learn to challenge established paradigms. It is true, we lack principled leadership, management capabilities and skills in many sectors.It is sad that appointments are made on the basis of cadre deployment, when we have the best resources and human capital of all race groups. Our politicians are looking after their own selfish intersts, while the country is breaking at the seams. Unlike you, others should learn to avoid being always ” politically correct” and pussy-footing on critical issues.

By: Alan in Botswana

Alan in Botswana — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:18:46 +0000

Remind me please, was it 500 charges of corruption that were dropped against Zuma? Is he really a good leader in your eyes? His financial advisor was convicted of fraud and corruption, does that suggest something to you about your current leader?

By: Quenton

Quenton — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:07:09 +0000

If you view Zuma as a “leader” your standards are not very high at all. No wonder Africa is in the state it is.