LETTER: Dire situation requires leadership, not collectivism

The Orange-Fish Tunnel was conceived in the 1960s and completed in 1976 to bring water to the Eastern Cape. Executed with precision and professionalism, and apparently within or not too far from budget, the tunnel is considered one of SA’s most outstanding engineering feats.

And who can disagree? The comparison with the Medupi and Kusile projects could not be more stark. We are left in despair at what could have been.

The ANC got us into the shambles of these contracts with reckless abandon and is now tasked with finding a way out. But, like Einstein’s fish, which will never climb a tree, what is it that the ANC will do differently?

The situation requires leadership, not collectivism. It needs someone to take responsibility, not hide in the collective. The ANC can’t do it. Nor can it repay loans many multiples greater than budget out of rand worth half what they were.

So-called democracy under apartheid followed inevitably by so-called democracy under the ANC, have failed SA. One weeps at what might have been. And trembles at what might still be. 

Barry Hay
Parktown North

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