Rivaan Roopnarain, News24 User
Dear Mr President,
I did not vote ANC in our country's recent democratic elections, nor did I have any intention to.
But this mention is not meant to be construed as an accusatory remark or one fuelled with criticism, rather, the mere ability to be able to state it plainly demonstrates the maturity and splendour of our democracy.
Listening to your speech following the IEC results release last week was indeed a joyous occasion, made more so by the embracing magnanimity of your words. Yet, when the speech ended and open questions were taken from present media representatives, there were visible moments for concern.
For instance, a reporter from Beeld enquired, perhaps naively, as to whether "you feel any sense of disappointment at the ANC not achieving its two-thirds majority target". It was, in all probability, an innocent question.
Your response then, with a tone indeed unmistakable, suggested that instead of congratulating the ANC, certain quarters seek constantly to sling the ANC.
Propensity for vengeance?
Hesitant as one should be to draw any inference such a singular remark, it cannot go unnoticed that those lines of response, of which there have been far too many, pregnant with a crudely veiled hostility; betray a certain propensity for vengeance.
Vengeance, Mr Zuma, in any form, whether mild or potent, whether understandable or misplaced, is precisely what this nation does not require at this, or any, stage of its life.
Our history, being the exemplary teacher that it is, is laden with colourful illustrations that highlight just how vengeance contains the unrestrained ability to multiply mightily, and ultimately, to not only stifle, but corrode our capacity to achieve a just and decent society, together with our broader standing as a great nation.
The people of this land, whether we realise it or not, need you, urge you and exhort you, Mr President, to actively demonstrate and perpetuate a grace and magnanimity that is meant to be the very bedrock of your political movement and its esteemed leaders of days gone by.
We need you to acknowledge, in solitude, that yours was an ascent to power that left in its wake an innocent citizenry burdened with confusion and bloated with uncertainty.
We need you to inject a sense of humility and candour, of competence and accountability, unblemished by camaraderie and untainted by personal affliction, into our system of governance.
We need you, by your actions and directive, to prove your justifiable critics wrong; for in so doing, do you place the nation firmly on the path attaining greatness and, truly, a better life for all.
Legacy
The trouble with leaders is that they require a legacy. Legacy, when used in the context of a person charged by a people to serve them, is an ugly word - for it invariably attaches a need for self-centric judgment to every action.
It goes without saying that a government official, by virtue of his office, is compelled to demonstrate the virtue to transcend these useless cravings.
For too long in our precious country politics has acted as a platform for fashionable elitism, all the while masquerading cheaply as an advocate for democracy. This despondent and altogether repelling system of governance needs to be urgently replaced by one that holds true to the sustenance of values and uncompromising standards of excellence.
Any hope of this can only be achieved if those who will soon occupy positions of governance mirror these same characteristics - leaders that our nation can aspire to, that can inspire a nation, and who exude integrity instead of question marks.
In spite of a most eventful, and at times unneeded period of unattractive politics, the winner that has emerged out of our elections is not the ANC, but is our democracy; the very stratum that underlies the sheer strength and grandiosity of our country.
As you take the oath of office, never lose sight of the fact that as State President, you have transcended a political party and now owe your allegiance to a nation's people, all of whom deservedly require you equally, in the truest sense of the word.
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Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.