Letters

The calibre of our youth leadership is shocking. The political imbecility and idiocy displayed by Fikile Mbalula of the African National Congress Youth League and Buti Manamela of the Young Communist League, in response to Judge Hilary Squires’ findings against Schabir Shaik, was breathtaking.

These crass upstarts’ appalling lack of judgment and strategic foresight borders on contempt for our institutions of democracy.

Our president, deputy president and the ANC have been careful in their comments on the outcome of the Shaik affair. But these two idiots — claiming to speak on behalf of our youth — laid into Squires in terms so personal, childish, petty and nasty that one cannot but despair at where they, if left untamed, will take our youth.

Rather than wait for their leaders to steer the country out of this painful, awkward and delicate experience, these clowns took it upon themselves to lash out at Squires. How undermining of the president! How disrespectful of our youth and workers!

Mbalula, with an astonishing naiveté, and Manamela, spurred by an atavistic demagoguery, may have raised doubts in the world about how committed our youth are to the processes and institutions established to protect our democracy. Coming from what is supposed to be the future of this country, should their comments raise concerns globally about what will happen when President Thabo Mbeki steps down, Mbalula and Manamela should be held personally responsible.

The youth movement of this country was forged on wise, astute and strategic leadership offered by the likes of Nelson Mandela, Murphy Morobe, Billy Masethla, Tshediso Matona, Malusi Gigaba, Dipuo Peters and Ignatius Jacobs.

We must all be outraged by the ugly exhibitionism of Mbalula and Manamela. Their ambitions should not be allowed to corrode the proud legacy the youth has built for itself in this country.

With acknowledgements to Nosizwe Afrika and the Business Day.