DA member defends the ANC
JOBURG – DA member Wayne Letchman says South Africa has made substantial progress since 1994, under ANC leadership.
Wayne Letchman writes :In response to Ivor Tillman’s letter, Congratulations ANC, Roodepoort Northsider week ending 20 June; I have never been a fan of fiction or a believer in Fairy Tales and Magic Castles. This is why I had to respond to your hilarious article on the ANC.
You have forgotten to accredit the ANC for global warming, HIV and perhaps the Global Credit Crises.
I am a member of the DA and I don’t like certain aspects of the ANC and the Presidency. However, I am not prepared to be unduly bias and one-sided in my analysis:
-The unemployment rate was over 22% in 1993 and now its 25% approximately – I don’t understand your 60% increase figure.
Regardless of the above the labour force has dramatically increased and the South African economy is exponentially larger than pre-1994.
More South Africans have decent jobs and brighter prospects.
-Yes we have labour unions and strikes and wage negotiations – so does every other democracy. It’s bizarre to think that international labour and political analyst support our strikes and sees the inequitable distribution of wealth, yet us South Africans think that this is an acceptable situation.
-We have some of the highest quality medical graduates in South Africa. Wits University and UCT are excellent and internationally known for their high quality research and graduates in the medical field. We ranked first in Africa.
-The fact that South Africans think the International Oil and Gas price is dictated by the ANC is beyond me.
-The exchange rate was minimally impacted by the South African Government however we do have a decent international credit rating compared to other emerging markets.
-When you develop from an economy only supporting the minority, and leaving the majority with nothing to an inclusive Economy, it is impossible to compare statistics – and, frankly, idiotic.
-We not that regressive and unconscious to propose war against any country – why do we need a bloated National Defence Force? We not The Apartheid Government with absolutely no Allies. We are actually progressive and have friends internationally if needed.
-We have made bad decisions in Education – however what are you doing to fix the situation? Except complain?
-We have a large and over-used road network and hence we have potholes. Gauteng has launched an application to report potholes for repairs and they fixed the one I reported within a week.
The state of our Nation is not the Government’s fault alone. It is also the fault of our complacency and lack of positive action. We come from a Society where the Minority was spoon-fed without having to actively participate.
Now that South Africans don’t have servants and cheap labour, all they do is complain instead of accepting that we have achieved so much in the past 20 years, however with everyone’s help we can achieve so much more.
Editor’s note: Letter published unedited.
