PEOPLE of South Africa, black and white, have an equal right to debate any issue without feeling that they are more or less South African.

I don't like the way the opposition parties and media concentrate on ANC Youth League president Julius Malema. The fact is that President Jacob Zuma, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi have made him an untouchable political lightweight.

Zuma went further to anoint him a future president because, like tap water, he wants to turn him "on and off" in his battles against communists and influential leaders like Cyril Ramaphosa and Mathews Phosa.

Many Africans agree that racism can't disappear in 15 years. Racial inferiority of Africans cannot be mentally abolished within 15 years. We have Africans who respect other races because of fear and consciousness that they are superior. Having said that, I do not believe that Malema must resort to racial slurs if he fails a debate.

I disagree with Deputy Minister of Transport Jeremy Cronin on nationalisation and socialisation. I am a Cope member and a social democrat who believes in an active state than communist socialist state.

Must I insult Malema because our views differ? It is the intolerance that Malema represents that leads to destruction of property - like the burning of facilities at the University of Zululand. Must I resort to racism to dismiss his views? The answer is no.

Can Zuma tame Malema? Cope recently summoned its leader to a disciplinary hearing for racial slurs. Can Zuma do the same to Malema?

Nigel Mkhwanazi, University of Zululand