"If you want to make everyone happy, don't be a leader, sell ice cream."

This world-famous Steve Jobs phrase can teach President Cyril Ramaphosa something he will never get – you can't make everyone happy.

His speeches at the ANC's manifesto launch and response on the Special Investigating Unit's report on Digital Vibes corruption were exasperating. The president wishes to please everybody, instead of tackling runaway corruption. How dare he call endemic corruption in our country mere challenges?

The president and fellow South Africans know that corruption is a deliberate and well-co-ordinated plot. 'Ramaphoria' does not come across as someone who believes the public have the ability to listen, scrutinise and form sensible interpretations. If he did, he would be more careful when addressing the public. His cautiously formulated statements were similar to embracing corruption.

He is talking as if he is carrying out conflict management within his ANC factions. He wants to be seen as strict on corruption but does not want to step on corrupt comrades' toes. He is nurturing snakes in his bosom.

The president disappointed the nation when he declared that the former minister of health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, "has performed exceptionally well in his duties" while the report at his disposal confirmed that Mkhize facilitated theft and corruption.

This shows that the president is helpless and thinks the entire country is the ANC. His diplomatic approach to pacify warring factions in the party he leads is obstructing the development of this country. The non-ANC people neither exist nor mean anything to the president. 

Kgothatso Mphuthi, Heilbron