Fire Ball...

A GLANCE: The sun is about to bury its head before sundown in Johannesburg. Photo: Nkosana Lekotjolo.

Lekota's National Convetion Is Just What We Need

In a democracy like ours, perhaps the former Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota's National Convention is what we need at the moment in the current political climate.

The ANC splinter group which comprise of other heavyweights such as the former Gauteng Premiere Mbhazima Shilowa, the former Defence deputy Mluleki George, the axed Cosatu President Willy Madisha and others - could just be the right alternative voice the country has been waiting for.

If the new political party is to be formed by the ANC splinter group is anything to go by, this should be seen as good news for the sake of our democracy. The new political party (in waiting) - a breakaway ANC faction would provide real opposition in the country.

Perhaps what we are seeing within the ANC as far as the split within the ruling party is concerned, is that the one party democracy that has dominated our democratic dispensation was not working and that the ANC didn't have any credible opposition at all.

Maybe this proves the theory that despite many opposition political parties that exist in the country, only the ANC splinter groupd could give an alternative voice. Photo: The Times

The Beautiful Creation...

BREATHLESS: The breath-taking spectacle at a break of dawn at Centani Resort in the Eastern Cape. Photo: Nkosana Lekotjolo.

Move To Remove Mbeki Now Would Be Regrettable

The speculation is rife that the ANC mostly domintated by the ANC President Jacob Zuma was out to tople the country's President Thabo Mbeki.

The Sunday newspapers quotted sources iniside the ANC that the move to remove Mbeki from office before next year's general elections was gaining momentum.

This it seems - not far from the truth. This comes in the wake of the last Friday's Pietermaritzburg High Court judge Chris Nicholson's ruling. For Zuma and his supporters the ruling validated their long-held view that "there was indeed political interference in the NPA investigation into ANC President Jacob Zuma."

It is pretty clear that the Zuma supporters's call - in particular the ANC Youth League president Julius Malema that, Mbeki must be removed immediatedly, is more than anything motivated by revenge.
Recalling Mbeki now won't be a clever move in particular because their accusations against the president's role in prosecution of Zuma don't warrant his removal from office.

For the sake of unity within the ANC and for the sake of the country's interest, Mbeki should be allowed to complete his term.

Photo: The Times.

Jozi's Golden Sky...

SKY MADE OF GOLD: The Johannesburg sky is filled with golden dust in the afternoon.
Photo: Nkosana Lekotjolo

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What Cosatu stands for

The countrywide national strikes by the Congress of South African Unions (Cosatu) protesting against high cost of living was unfortunate to some extend.

Cosatu was successful in convincing thousands of workers to down tools in the month of August in defiance to what they say was the governmen't fault that Eskom had plugged the country into darkness, that the prices of food and petrol were high; and that the interest rates and high electricity increases were fixed by the government and Eskom.

While Cosatu could count its successes of bringing the country to a standstill - which was very costly for the country's economy during the prostests, and boasting that they had put pressure on the government to listen to its people; sadly enough all the marches were not intending at achieving these noble objectives.

The marches were a politically culculated move aimed at unsettling the government of President Thabo Mbeki. What characterised these marches more than anything else, from the speakers of Cosatu, SACP, ANYL, Young Communist League, SASCO and others was a fierce defence for the ANC President Jacob Zuma.

Zuma's backers believe that it is Mbeki and his government who are behind the move to prevent the ANC president from becoming the country's president.

During these marches again , the main focus was focused on throwing attacks at the NPA (Scorpions), the judges and a cry to put "hands off Zuma."

Once again, the workers were used as a political tool to win political battles.

Photo:

Miriam Mannak, M&G.