The DA is cowardly

The Democratic Alliance is a cowardly political party, which abuses the ideals of constitutionalism and democracy to cover up their unpalatable ideological agenda. I'm referring here to the DA's ongoing criticism against most of President Zuma's key appointments in the public sector. The latest statement by Theo Coetzee is a case in point, in which he criticizes the appointments to the State Security Services, National Intelligence Agency and SA Secret Services (see here and here).

Mr. Coetzee's winding statements could - unfortunately - be reduced to only three progressive extracts: 1) that "...(key positions) should be filled by qualified, non-partisan officials", 2) that "...we need capable people in place...", and 3) that "we need leaders who are beyond reproach, who are accountable and upstanding". The rest remain some recycled political legends, which only serve the DA's goal to undermine the ANC leadership, and could best be defined as regressive.

It seems the DA (generally) knows who they do not want in key positions, yet they never engage the public around their preferred candidate(s). Thus they continue to barrage the public with airy-fairy, wishy-washy but desirable concepts like "competence" and "merit" without actually putting any face to the fore.

What exactly is their understanding of these concepts and how would they personify them? I suppose there could probably be a very good reason why the DA generally shies away from naming their "best person(s) for the job". If the composition of the Western Cape cabinet is anything to go by, then the DA's interpretation of "competence" and "merit" is quite scary: "75% white, 73% white male and 91% male". I don't know about you, but these statistics send a shiver down my spine. At best, this is very unfortunate, and at worst it portrays an image of apartheid reincarnated.

I venture to opine that the turn of events in the Western Cape cabinet is precisely the reason why the DA seldom puts forth its preferred candidate (s), despite the amount of criticism they dish out every second press release. By adopting this strategy, they can judge but not be judged. It could also be said that this choice of cabinet had two objectives: 1) to make a statement against Affirmative Action and Employment Equity and 2) to remind their core constituency of white liberals that the DA is their only option if they are to defeat the ANC's "swart gevaar". This modified version of the "swart gevaar" propagates that the ANC appoints "incompetent" people in key positions, and that these "Affirmative Action appointees" (read: black) are running down the country.

In fact, a fellow youngster I engaged on this subject - who also lives in Cape Town - suggested that "the Western Cape reflects exactly the kind of society the DA would love to see. We have people in Gugulethu and Khayelitsha who have never been to Camps Bay; white kids go to UCT [University of Cape Town] and Stellenbosch and black kids go to CPUT [Cape Peninsula University of Technology] and UWC [University of Western Cape]. That is how inaccessible the facilities in this city are."

Although the party has "once" named Deputy Chief Justice, Dikgang Moseneke, as their preferred candidate for the position of Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, this rare occasion could best be understood within the framework that the constitution obliged them (as an opposition party) to (at least) have a preferred candidate, but most importantly, because Moseneke DCJ had said some very unfortunate things about the ANC during some speech at his birthday party. It really baffles me, why the DA seems convinced that they could build their party legacy around undermining the ANC. It could be that there is a failure on their part to acknowledge that the ANC transcends personalities. The near two-third majority in the previous polls confirmed it.

The long and short of it is that the DA is the last political party to preach "competence" and "merit". Their understanding of these concepts appears regressive and pretty much dodgy. So, in response to Mr. Coetzee: until he states his preferred candidates for the above-mentioned posts, I'm quite content with King Herod in charge of a nursery. At least I know for sure that he cannot be Eugene Terreblanche.

Setumo Stone is a writer, social commentator and youth activist

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@Setumo Stone Yaaaaaaawn!! Another rant from a head-in-the-sand ANC supporter. Where do these idiots come from? If this is the level at which blacks think, then no doubt The Bell Curve was spot on in its analysis. by LJS on October 06 2009, 11:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

mmm Firstly, the author was one of the Cheerleaders of Justice for Sloppy Hlophe, and friends of Jacob Zuma. Enough said. He will probably justify the R1,8 Billion "commission" paid to Fana Hlongwane in the arms deal, see nothing wrong with the Free State . .more Dept of Health canceling their ARV rollout so that they could "donate" R30 million of tax payer funds to the ANC election campaign, and that spending over R10 million on an Inauguration party in KZN. Stone, I have laid the challenge, let us see what you come up with. Now to the opinion piece. Before the DA took over WC, the ANC leadership had almost the same gender profile. I assume, since you did not comment on that, as long as it is ANC it is fine? Helen Zille as publicly stated that she would have preferred more females, but that those competent enough chose to go to National Parliament. Selective amnesia? The turnaround of CT, including reducing debt by R1 billion, and building more RDP houses in CT than the ANC managed in the entire WC speaks volumes about the success of competent people in charge. You baseless opinion is rendered meaningless by this performance. In conclusion, you try to build up an blatantly dishonest impression of the DA, whilst actively supporting ANC dishonesty and corruption. Nice. Next pig at the trough please. . .less by Peter on October 06 2009, 11:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Oooh what a surprise!! It's the race card again. He even managed to mention Apartheid a couple of times. If he had ever bothered to read Helen Zille's responses regarding the composition of her cabinet, he would be better informed as to why she had very little alternative but . .more to make the appointments she did. The difference between ANC-supporters and the DA is that the DA actually make sure that they are informed about issues before they make fools of themselves in public. A lesson the ANC should learn. Furthermore, Setumo does exactly what he is blaming the DA of doing. He attacks the DA without providing any cogent reasoning for why they are wrong. Nobody asks the DA for their preferred candidate in these positions, so what use would it be to provide one? The ANC youth really need to learn a little logic. . .less by Samjank on October 06 2009, 12:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ANC AND EVOLUTION The more I get to know the ANC supporters the more I believe in evolution. The ANC supporters are still there in the tree swinging stages - maybe a thousand or so years behind the rest of the civilised world that actualy invented democracy. by SP on October 06 2009, 14:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Hey Setumo I think you need a bit more practise before you can honestly put "writer" after your name. But let's give you credit where credit is due, it is far better than anything Julius or Zuma could do. So what's the plan here - make enough . .more noise in support of Zuma and hopefully you will get rewarded with a nice ANC position complete with an expensive set of wheels and first pickings at the BEE feeding trough ? . .less by Sad days on October 06 2009, 14:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Representation in a democracy I would like to inform Setumo Stone that it takes a very dedicated kind of stupid to think that representation in a democracy has anything to do with skin colour, gender or struggle credentials. Does the make-up of the DA have anything to do with their . .more ability to perform their duties? Not at all! Neither does any other entity in this country need a demographic breakdown to function. As a matter of fact it is decidedly unnatural to expect such a breakdown and such homogenisation can only serve to dull the edge we have as a diverse nation. We are already teetering on the edge of the typical African slide to self-destruction and it is this unimpeded stupidity that is the driving force behind it. See: http://charlesscheepers.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/representation-in-south-africa/ . .less by Charles Scheepers on October 06 2009, 14:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Black kids go to UWC and CPUT Black kids from Polokwane are accepted at UCT every year. Maybe your young disadvantaged friend did not meet the requirements of the prestigeous university of CT? by teacher in limpopo on October 06 2009, 18:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Erm... The DA's job is to oppose - that's why they're the opposition. If they were asked for suggestions by the ANC, and those would be taken seriously, you might see a different picture. But Setumo, if the opposition is not supposed to oppose, what are they . .more there for? To give a veneer of legitimacy to the undemocratic self-serving ANC elite? . .less by The Big Slipper on October 06 2009, 18:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Who the eeee is this Setumo Stone ???? What is his credentials? He is writing just nonsense ........ Why is he allowed to publish.... this is propaganda ...... by unknown on October 06 2009, 19:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Julius' lapdog This is the same idiot who wrote on News24 on the guise of a "News24 User" the following diatribe: http://www.news24.com/Content/MyNews24/YourStory/1162/1c381b215ee24329899b32a18743ab15/06-10-2009-11-08/The_Malema_phenomenon I understand that . .more News24 would give all and sundry a voice but I hoped that Politicsweb was a little more circumspect. Clearly not. Answering this clueless wonder's individual assertions would be like giving his mental flatulence some kind of credence. I'd rather treat it with the contempt it deserves. Looking at the bigger picture however leaves me feeling decidedly uneasy. If this is how many of the black youth are feeling then I am thankful that I have the skills to leave at any time. I feel for those who cannot. . .less by Durban Dave on October 06 2009, 21:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Challenge ideas not people "If this is the level at which blacks think, then no doubt The Bell Curve was spot on in its analysis". If anything, this shows the kind of thinking that black people have to deal with everyday. There is absolutely nothing wrong with disagreement . .more but comments like these are just unnecessary. If you have something you disagree with, deal with the issues brought up in the article and stop attacking Mr Stone. You have something substantial to say, say it, but leave insults out of it . .less by Why am I not Surprised? on October 06 2009, 23:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Anyone who does not fear the TRUE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE will AGREE It is with pleasure to note that there are other South African citizens who can see and understand the DA for what it is!!! A paraphernalia of them are still blinded by the achievements of the ANC, and hence they become PERMANENT ANALYSTS of the . .more ANC. When anyone critiques the DA, it is insinuated that it is "an ANC Spy"!!! This is a clear indication that it is only the ANC that is equal to the task of exposing neo-liberal tendencies of the old National Party!!! I bet most, if not all DA voters and sympathizers will realize that only the ANC has the interests of South African Citizens @ heart. They will see the Old National Party (DA) for what it is!!!! . .less by LG Yekani on October 07 2009, 00:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Why am I not Surprised? P**** off! by LJS on October 07 2009, 00:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@LG Yekani on October 07 2009, 00:18 Some FACTS that may be pertinent. The New National Party joined the ANC, and Van Schalkwyk is still an MP. So, realistically, the "liberators" have sided with the oppressors. The DA in it's current and all previous incarnations (DP, PFP etc) . .more has been consistent in its policy of freedom and democracy for all. The "achievements" of the ANC include: massive attempts to remove our freedoms and democratice rights, including free speech, through repressive legislation that would have made Verwoerd and PW proud. They have overseen the rise in unemployment, massive corruption and now the worst GINI coefficient in the world. Education has dropped to abysmal levels, health is the worst it has been in the last 50 years, incompetence has ensured that the ESKOM additional capacity projects will now cost in excess of R1 Trillion instead of R250 Billion (Quote: Alec Erwin). Convicted criminals are not only defended, but promoted within parliament (Booi being the latest example). Through all of this the ONLY voice of reason, the most vocal protector of our rights and freedoms has been the DA. I can write a book on ANC failure and repression, with the facts to support it. The question is, can you raise a single fact to support your position? I thought not. . .less by Peter on October 07 2009, 06:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What if whites ARE in fact the best candidates? Just suppose for a moment that whites are significantly more intelligent than blacks, by a margin of up to 30 I* points. Wouldn't you want the best doctor, i.e. a white, do perform brain surgery on you, or the best candidate to run your retirement fund? . .more This is not a fantasy. Average I* in South Africa among blacks: 70 (=borderline retardation in most countries.) . .less by Afrikaner on October 07 2009, 07:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Joker Does this Joker read Politicsweb each day? If he does and if he is intelligent then he should realise that he should be criticising the ANC and be praising the DA. Just one question Joker: Have any of the black women that the ANC appointed to government . .more positions made any significant changes to make South Africa a better place in the last 15 years? . .less by Molly on October 07 2009, 08:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Setumo Stone is a good writer But also an exceptionally good listener and reader. What has maddened the racist commentators here is that Stone has noticed something very obvious, namely: "It seems the DA (generally) knows who they do not want in key positions, yet . .more they never engage the public around their preferred candidate(s). Thus they continue to barrage the public with airy-fairy, wishy-washy but desirable concepts like "competence" and "merit" without actually putting any face to the fore." Bravo, Setumo Stone! . .less by Domza on October 07 2009, 09:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Do You Not understand the constitution and its purpose Why do you not understand the constitution instead of writing articles that bring you down take time out to understand , this may serve you better than wasting ink and poorly thought emtional nonsense. by And And on October 07 2009, 09:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Setumo,I'm enjoying this I must confess, I'm enjoying your articles today more so because they begin to expose some white for they really are: RACISTS. You don't have to look further than their responses to see that they think and live in the 60's period where their . .more voices were the only authority. . .less by Njabuliso on October 07 2009, 10:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Mr Stoned If only your mother had loved you...... by Dave R on October 07 2009, 10:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

the d.a. is cowardly Just one little point-have you checked the enrolment demographics at U.C.T.? by erewhon on October 07 2009, 10:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

WTF Maby this person should take a walk on any campus and he wil see that there are a lot of Black kids in UCT , Stellenbosch and all over as black people are the Majority, All those kids there worked ther asses off to get into university, maby this person`s . .more young Friend should stop being lazy, get off his A** and work hard to get somewhere in life just like the rest of us. I am just so fedup with people who think just because they are black that they should get everything for free, They dont want to work and learn like the rest of us, no they just want it Free... . .less by Charl on October 07 2009, 11:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Setumo Stone's absurdity backed by dommest Domza Stone's charge is totally absurd! The ANC's appointments are faits accompli which call for, and often don't bear, scrutiny. It's illogical to suggest that such scrutiny is "cowardly" if it is not accompanied by suggestions of, not whom the ANC . .more could rather have appointed, but whom the Opposition itself would have appointed. This would be a senseless exercise in futility. Let's face it...... many of the ANC's appointments are incomprehensible by any moral standards : e.g. appointing as President an individual who had at least 783 criminal charges against him (withdrawn in the most dubious manner!). Does outrage at this necessitate the DA naming its preferred candidate for it not to be labeled cowardly? Bullshit! . .less by flebus on October 07 2009, 13:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cowardy Custard What Stone has written, having been written, is undeniable. That's great writing. by Domza on October 07 2009, 14:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@L.G. Yekani "A paraphernalia of them are still blinded by the achievements of the ANC, and hence they become PERMANENT ANALYSTS of the ANC." A paraphernalia of them ??? Gosh, what the hell is that? Get yourself a dictionary chump! Also, we're not "blinded" . .more by the lack of achievements of the ANC but "disgusted". I take it you did not notice you forgot to put in "lack of" before "achievements" in your comment. Also, the ANC does not need much analysis. Corrupt, dishonest, inefficient, self-serving, self-enriching, criminal and stupid are about the only words needed to describe the ANC. Maybe you didn't notice, or you dishonestly pretend to "forget" that the ANC and the old NP merged. The worst of the NP, including its leader, joined and stayed in the ANC, and the best joined to the DA. You are a typical ANC supporter, dishonest, brown nosing, and hoping to be invited onto the gravy train; for that you gladly sell your integrity and your dignity. . .less by FLEBUS on October 07 2009, 19:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cowardly Custard Domza thus confirms he is the dommest. The "greatness" of feeble trashy Stone writing overwhelms the Domza intellect. by flebus on October 07 2009, 19:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@All ANC and their ilk Today I went to a talk, given by David Grier, on his fund raising run along the coast from Namibia to Mozambique for a foundation which provides surgical correction for kids born with facial deformities.....mainly split lips and cleft palates. He raised . .more about R2 000 000 for this restorative and healing work. The overwhelming proportion of kids helped by the Foundation are Black, and David showed us some pictures of these kids. What made my blood boil was the thought that if it wasn't for David and others like him, these kids would have gone through childhood, and maybe life, in misery, whilst the ANC fat cat ministers were blowing tax money on their fat pay checks and perks, and fancy cars, and paying their incompetent brothers in parastatals millions if not in bloated salaries and bonuses then on golden handshakes. Such work as the Foundation does should be provided for by Government, but they rather fatten themselves to bloating rather than give attention to this. And the lottery which is supposed to take up the slack...where are they? To lazy, incompetent and non-caringly thick-skinned as their ANC sponsors are to lift a finger. These kids would have been better off under Apartheid Then LG Yekani and his ilk have the audacity to speak of the ANC's "achievements"!!! The ANC has a very ugly face. . .less by flebus on October 07 2009, 19:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cowards "Setumo Stone is a writer, social commentator and youth activist". He's also an A******. Zille has challenged Zuma to a public debate on TV on numerous occassions. Understandably he refuses, just as Mbeki refused to debate Tony Leon. And Stone accuses . .more the DA of being cowardly? Those are about the only wise decisions those ANC leaders have ever taken, they would have been hammered by the DA leaders. . .less by Jeff on October 07 2009, 21:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

SS "Thus they continue to barrage the public with airy-fairy, wishy-washy but desirable concepts like "competence" and "merit" without actually putting any face to the fore". I fail to understand why concepts such as "competence" and "merit" are . .more airy-fairy and wishy-washy They are pretty succinct and material to the matter at hand for anyone who understands them. Perhaps the problem lies with your intellect, or lack thereof, Stone. Possibly you are a Pedi speaker, a language that according to another "youth activist" is sadly lacking a modern lexicon. . .less by Jeff on October 07 2009, 21:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Stone's racial drivel "We have people in Gugulethu and Khayelitsha who have never been to Camps Bay; white kids go to UCT [University of Cape Town] and Stellenbosch and black kids go to CPUT [Cape Peninsula University of Technology] and UWC [University of Western Cape]. That . .more is how inaccessible the facilities in this city are." Well, I am a white Capetonian and I've never been to Gugulethu or Khayelitsha, so it cuts both ways. Actually the racial spllit of students at UCT is approximately 50% black and 50%white. Are you implying that the other universities you mention are in some way inferior to UCT? If your friend wishes to go to UCT all he has to do is get off his A*** and walk up a rather steep hill, then he could see for himself the large numbers of black students on the campus. You've really got a problem, Stone, you should seek help. Psychiatrist qualified at UCT Medical School,or some Sangoma who has been "called" by the ancestors. Come to think of it, maybe there isn't such a difference there. . .less by Jeff on October 07 2009, 21:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

LIAR The DA's cabinet is "75% white, 73% white male and 91% male"? In addition to being brain dead, it appears that Setumo Stone can't count properly. Lennit Max, Ivan Meyer, Bonginkosi Madikizela and Sakkie Jenner are all non-white MECs in . .more the DA's administration. How do you arrive at 75%?! Indeed, if Zille had named just one additional black MEC, her cabinet would have been an exact 50:50 black/white split!! Compare that to five ANC provincial administrations that are 100% black. How is that not racist enough to send "shivers down your spine" Setumo Stone? Could it be that it's because you're the racist? . .less by MZN on October 09 2009, 09:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Truth I like this guy. As a fellow South African, i would like for you to keep writing your articles. Don't hold anything back! I am tired of seeing comments like "i agree 100%". Expose them for what they are, RACISTS that hide under the guise of being Liberal. . .more . .less by Tumi on October 15 2009, 10:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

truth you know that Thabo Mbeki started the onslaught of racism all over again. We liberals always voted angainst the NATS but the NATS kept on dividing the politacal contituencies so they could drown our votes. In other words they would idintify us and . .more would make the constituencies so big where we were and have small consitituencis like Blikkiesdorp being able to elect one seat. Helen Zille was a youth league member under Helen Suzman. She was in the executive of the Black Sash that had very powerful friends overseas to boycot SA. Now we supported Frederick van Zyl Slabbert who was the leader of DP who met the ANC in Lusaka. The likes of Madiba , Sisulu, Thambo, Luthuli, were the true people who would have had a multiracial SA. The fact that under Mbeki, nurses colleges were shut down, Teachers colleges were shut down, Technical Schools were shut down, school inspectors were abolished. Engineers in the Muncipalaities were paid to leave, left no-one to train skilled artizans in the muncipalities. Trade Schools for plumbing and electicians suddenly neede to have matric as entry level ,shutting thousands out. He turned a blind eye to incompetence, theft as well as Fronting as a of part of BEE as long as the few became millionaires disregarding uplifting the uneducated. Ruining the reputation of the Black people. . .less by liberal on October 15 2009, 20:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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