• Tweet

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE LEADERSHIP DEBATE, EMAIL YOUR CONSIDERED OPINION TO LETTERS@SOWETAN.CO.ZA

That's probably why some people are prepared to kill for their preferred presidential candidates.

As head of state you don't only have a bird's-eye view of your country, but you also carry enormous responsibilities, as well as the hopes and aspirations of millions of your fellow countrymen.

You live in the lap of luxury, fêted by queens and kings all over the world and fly first-class or in presidential jets that are sometimes escorted by one or two planes.

Surrounded by hawk-eyed and highly trained bodyguards around the clock, your safety is almost guaranteed.

What's more, the job also comes with a hefty pension.

After serving as president you don't need a CV anymore. You are a walking CV.

But in Mzansi, the Man with the White Goatee, Kgalema Motlanthe himself, strangely believes being president is not a big deal.

In the latest Faces of Government poster inserted in a number of newspapers, the Man with the White Goatee lists his previous positions as a "trade unionist of the Congress of SA Trade Unions", general secretary of the Union of Mineworkers, general secretary of Ain't Seen Nothing Yet and member of Parliament.

But..

Despite serving the country as a democratically elected president between September 25 2008 and May 9 2009, the Man with the White Goatee did not see this as an important milestone in his political career to the extent of including it in his abridged CV.

But with the road to Mangaung becoming increasingly dangerous, his amnesia or attempt to airbrush history is perfectly understandable.

He definitely would not want to step on the Machine Gun Man's toes by including this historical fact on his CV because he would most likely be accused of trying to portray himself as the incumbent's equal.

FNB still lost in the past

COULD someone, especially Steve, please wake First National Bank from its deep slumber and gently remind it that Mzansi is no longer under apartheid rule and that all the labels that were tied to its painful past have been disposed of?

You see, FNB has of late been passing disparaging remarks about Steve, portraying him as a backward, good-for-nothing and out-of-touch banker. It did this while it tried to endear itself to the public as a technologically savvy and modern banking institution that offers 21st century products.

Imagine Guluva's surprise when, while doing an EFT, he discovered that FNB still has, in this day and age, a branch in Limpopo called Giyani (TVL).

This abbreviation - for all born-frees out there - stands for Transvaal, one of the four provinces of apartheid South Africa.

Transvaal, if FNB does not know, died the same day that apartheid met its demise 18 years ago.

Do you still have a problem with Steve, FNB? Or rather, how can we help you?

Long-lasting ending

"WE will continue to work hard until the last end of the season," Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi said in a TV interview after the Buccaneers were held to a 1-all draw by Ajax Cape Town in an Absa Premiership match at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town at the weekend.

Please wake Guluva up when we finally reach the "last end of the season".

E-mail: Guluva at thatha.guluva@gmail.com

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Sat May 25 20:21:24 SAST 2013 ::

May 4, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Is either K Motlanthe is a chicken or is playing a game!!
Report Abuse

May 4, 2012

Blackstone.lebs

@Morena
i thnk he's playing a mind game...why join the already publicised fracas if he can just wait in the sideline and pop up at the last hour
Report Abuse

May 4, 2012

Tango

Zuma's camp is watching him very carefully.
Report Abuse

May 4, 2012

swona

K Motlanthe is playing chess, and his moves are brilliant!
Report Abuse

May 4, 2012

Qebza

The man is just playing smart that's all...
Report Abuse

May 4, 2012

Sheruhman

Leadership change is emminent come December, Mangaung will see the new breed of leaders emerge. However, the ANC and RSA does not need leaders of K Motlanthe's persona. Mothlanthe comes across as a pure political oppotunist who seek popularity over substance and dicipline, he does not want to be seen to bite the hand that feeds him. This was evidenced during the build up to Polokwane when he was sleeping in the comfort of Mbeki's palm - then jumped onto the torn pocket(s) of Jacob Zuma after realising the strength excerted by the Thou Diciples of the beloved Z-Boy. Now his name has tossed around as the preffered candidate to replace Zuma, but only to the peril of his supporters. He should be decisive and stand up to be counted amongst the great leaders South Africa has ever produced or just step aside and let the bold ones to carry the batton.
Report Abuse

May 4, 2012

Papage

Mr Kgalema Motlanthe is a unionist, not a polititian. He does not have that power of leadership in his eyes, His speach is soft as a baby nappy, he is a gentlemen and gentlemen never make good leaders. He listen to jazz music, that makes him slow in doing things, he is too much of a softy guy, used to be bullied at school, run home and tell Mama, he is not a type of a fighting man, he is more ladies than gents. I respect him though, he can not survive this throne of presidency, SA need Mbeki type person, SA need business, SA need Jobs and the type of a leader needed are very few: we Motsepe, Mbeki, Ramaphosa, Tony Leon type of Leaders.
Report Abuse

May 4, 2012

KeRataBasadi

Even if you win Motlanthe and become president Jessica Leandra dos Santos will still think and call you a K2ffir.
Report Abuse

May 4, 2012

Sheruhman

Papage you have got a point my brother - though I doubt Tony Leon as one kind of leader RSA needs. The ANC need a paradigm shift in so far as issues of Leadership and succession planning is concerned. Seniority should not be the determining factor, but merit and leadership ability. For instance, in one small town called Wepener (Naledi Local Municipality) in the Free State a young girl in her mid-twenties was elected Mayor without having prior working experience or Matric for that matter. She has been thrown in the deep end as she can not stop amusing the locals by one act of barbarism after another. The most embarassing and latest stunt she pulled was to throw a party at her home while the community gathered at the stadium to celebrate Freedom Day. Similar acts have also been seen in the highest echolons of Governance and Administration. Is this what we need as ordinary citizens of the Azania?
Report Abuse

May 4, 2012

ProgressiveAfricanDemocrat

If anything events of the past few weeks have clearly shown that Kgalema Motlanthe is a disciplined member of the ANC who rises above factionalism and abides by the ANC's rules. The ANC NEC has clearly said that nominations will be open officially starting in October this year. Motlanthe has been quiet relaxed about this matter trusting the judgment and wisdom of ANC branch members to prevail. He thus refused to be involved in any discussion for or against his candidacy as the future president of the ANC. When young people appeared with t-shirts emblazoned "Kgalema for President", he was quick to call them to order. But not so with the Inkandla Brigade which is clearly desperate to be re-elected. Birthday parties, provincial conferences in KwaZulu-Natal and workers' rallies are being abused to campaign for a second term in the presence of Jacob Zuma, without any reprimand. State institutions and intelligence agencies are being abused to cam paign for a second term. His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini was brought in to promote Jacob Zuma's campaign for a second term , in KZN. At provincial and regional conferences in KZN delegates are told that KZN will vote for Jacob Zuma as a united block. COSATU president goes against his own organisation's stance that it will only back Jacob Zuma until the end of his term, with a desperate Dlamini telling a paltry crowd of a 1000 or so that COSATU will back Zuma beyond Mangaung. Ace Magashule goes against the ANC NEC directive and clearly punts Jacob Zuma for a second term, in the presence of the man himself. Blade Nzimande and Butin Manamela have long been campaigning for the retention of Jacob Zuma without being reprimanded.

Charges rae brought against Julius Malema and the ANC Youth League leadership , opposed to a second term for Jacob Zuma. Cyril Ramaphosa and Derek Hanekom are brought in to preside over disciplinary hearings which clearly settle political scores and stifle political debate, in direct violation of the ANC Constitution . While some of us trusted Cyril to do the right thing but it is clear that the Constitution man is not beyond abuse of power, and clearly cannot be trusted to be the president of all South Africans.
Report Abuse

Read all 18 comments