Letters

The "people's president", Jacob "bring me my machinegun" Zuma appears to be zapping our "Gucci revolutionary" Thabo Mbeki down to an even smaller size in the race for the presidency.

Those with little insight into the African psyche are stunned as a result. Certainly applicable (although I am not sure in what context it was said) is the stinging remark by controversial Sunday Times editor, Mondli Makhanya, that "we see a nation descending into stupidity".

Why stupidity? Well, who supports a presidential candidate who wields an imaginary "machinegun" on his campaign trail; who was declared to have a "generally corrupt relationship" with jailbird Shabir Shaik; who faces serious corruption and other charges (if the hapless/terrified bosses of the National Prosecuting Authority ever reach a decision before, of course, seeing which way the political wind blows); who had an unseemly/seedy relationship with an HIV-positive young woman and whose main claim to a proper education can only be that he has a degree in being "streetwise".

What will the world think of South Africa?

As we have that international event that tops all events: the 2010 soccer World Cup, this country will not be placed under a mere magnifying glass: it will be under a microscope with supporting satellite pictures. Sensation-seeking newshounds will be pouncing on every problem and unearthing every single skeleton to discredit the decision to choose SA as the World Cup venue.

An increasingly jittery-looking Fifa president Sepp Blatter has resorted to criticising the media for negative reporting.

Unfortunately this came at a time when an Austrian was shot dead and robbed.

If we are going to need bodyguards for foreigners, the number required to protect foreign footballers and spectators during the World Cup should go a long way towards solving this country's unemployment problem.

To top it all, if all goes according to plan in terms of the Zuma camp's now-realistic dreams, the country will be headed by a president trying to fend off corruption charges or, if he succeeds in doing so, who will be facing enormous criticism for having allegedly escaped that "political noose" via manipulation and intimidation.

Finally, I had to smile when I read The Star on Monday, where NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali's said the NPA "would not be influenced by Zuma's potential rise to the ANC's presidency".

The fact is, in order to avoid total mayhem in this country, they should be thus influenced and drop all charges. There comes a time when a choice has to be made between the lesser of two "evils."

It's certainly "bye-bye Blatter" if we land up with widespread violence in the streets - and international repercussions would (and this time the John Vorster cliche is justified) definitely be "too ghastly to contemplate".

Cliff Saunders
Northcliff, Johannesburg

With acknowledgements to Cliff Saunders and The Star.