There is fierce fighting for the Joburg mayoral candidacy as residents “continue to endure water shortages, sewage overflows, power cuts and a city whose infrastructure is on the brink of ruin”, as The Star put it.
One would expect that uppermost in every concerned citizen’s mind would be a frantic search for the ideal candidate, one with a proven track record that recommends them as the most appropriate candidate with the potential to turn things around from this near-impossible situation.
Yet to my greatest dismay the candidacy of Helen Zille is described as a controversial choice for the DA. Why? Because analysts accuse the party of abandoning its strategy of “fronting” black leaders. But after 30 years of being in the forefront, one would assume black leaders had learnt everything there is to know about these leadership roles.
During her short stint as Cape Town mayor (2006-09) Zille is reputed to have earned global recognition by winning the 2008 World Mayor Prize for her leadership, vision and effective governance. That is exactly what Joburg needs if it stands any chance of renewal and survival.
So, what is actually wrong with Zille’s candidacy? Bear in mind that these are no ordinary times — there is too much at stake for us to be behaving as if we were robots. We have a whole country to save from total ruin, and it is now or never. We don’t have much choice.
Cometh Dube-Makholwa
Midland
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