OUR new leaders promised that if we voted for them they would close the gap between rich and poor . They promised the nation a fairer society and quality services .

OUR new leaders promised that if we voted for them they would close the gap between rich and poor . They promised the nation a fairer society and quality services .

So we voted overwhelmingly for them. We hoped that under Jacob Zuma things would be better than they were under Thabo Mbeki, whose administration was accused of being dominated by Xhosas.

But now we see signs of Zulu domination: Siyabonga Cwele; Bheki Cele; Blade Nzimande; Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma; Malusi Gigaba; Jeff Radebe; Ndumiso Ngcobo; Siphiwe Nyanda, Zweli Mkhize, Noluthando-Mayende Sibiya, Sicelo Shiceka, Sbusiso Ndebele, Nathi Mthetwa and others. I have yet to see a Khoi, a Xu, a San or Nama in high office.

I challenge our socialist, communist and worker office bearers to show their commitment by going to public hospitals when they and their families are ill.

Also by sending their kids to government schools, by using Metro trains instead of the Blue Train, by driving to Cape Town on potholed roads instead of flying there, by living in normal suburbs instead of security complexes (preferably informal settlements, Tokyo Sexwale. Irvin Khoza still lives in Soweto).

I challenge them to swap their DStv's for the SABC, to use their salaries to pay for their own things as ordinary people do so that they feel the pain of inflation and high food prices.

If they are like us, why don't they live like us, like Gandhi lived among his people? I dare them to live like us for just 18 months and then to tell us if it is right to misuse our taxes?

All leaders must lead by example . Only then will their words not be empty and shallow.

Aubrey Kolobe, Mamelodi West