Letters: Not all Zuma’s fault

The first three pages of this week’s North Coast Courier were something of an eye opener. While there is understandably no direct connection, let’s take a look at what was reported:
Starting on page one, we learn that over a million people went to Bloemfontein to pray for South Africa. Nothing wrong with that, but in most countries such mass prayers occur when the country is on the brink of war or confronted with a natural catastrophe.
In South Africa’s instance, the prayers were sparked by the democratically elected President making cabinet reshuffles. Don’t get me wrong. I do not agree with what President Zuma did, but what he did was perfectly within his competence.
Moving on to page two, we come to the dispute between the ANCYL and Ballito Junction.
What caught my eye was the statement by Musa Zondi, claiming that “for far too long we have been spectators whilst the greedy bosses and minorities were feasting on what is rightfully ours”.
My personal reaction upon reading this statement was pretty simple. Is this guy serious? The ANCYL marches on a new shopping mall and Zondi then claims that something is rightfully theirs?
On page three we then read that there are sugar cane labourers who allegedly work without lunch breaks and who may not even be paid if they do not complete all the work they were expected to do. Some of the labourers do not receive protective clothing while others have to buy the equipment required to cut the cane, from which the farmer ultimately reaps the benefit. Heck, for me terms like “human rights” and “modern day slavery” came to mind.
Make of this what you want, but in my opinion not everything that is wrong in South Africa is Zuma and ANCYL related.
MARKUS KÄMPF
Ballito