Thanks for the RDP house, but give us our dignity back

President Jacob told reporters that he would not debate with Zille because she is not a President but a premiere. He advised Zille to get Premiers to debate with. 

President Zuma already knows the ANC will get comfortable win of the upcoming elections. He is very much aware that his party's sponsorship of poverty will deliver victory and a second term in the highest office. So, why open up yourself to criticism by debating with the opposition? 

The people exploited by the ANC will most probably not even watch the debate. The ANC's target market is those they manipulate with social grants, food parcels and a promise of a better life every five years. And of course those who benefit while corrupt leaders remain in power. Nelson Mandela convinced not only South Africans, but the whole world when he took on FW de Klerk before the 1994 elections. Even though the majority of the people were clear that apartheid was over, Mandela was not arrogant but still wanted to convince us he was the Moses leading us out of Egypt.

Now Moses is dead. We remain in the wilderness. No one to give us our dignity back. Zuma debating with Zille is an opportunity to try and give something no one has been able to do. Give us our dignity back. Restore faith in the ANC of Oliver Tambo and defend his right to lead this wonderful nation. We were given RDP houses. More people have electricity. There are no signs that prevent black people from using same pavements with whites. Even though,white people did not meet us halfway with Mandela's reconciliation, we moved from the dark days of apartheid. 

But we are now stuck in middle of the road. Our people cannot maintain what government has provided because they are disempowered. The same government that lead us out of the dark now can't keep the lights on. We are in another kind of darkness. Black people have no social or economic power. That makes the RDP house useless. We can't maintain them. So, Mr Zuma refuses to come on live television to defend the distance his party has covered and they way forward. How do we get to the promise land? People of Soshanguve, Madidi, Klipgat and Mabopane want their dignity back. They appreciate the RDP houses. But you cannot make them dependent on you just to secure votes. They want to hear Mr Zuma give them hope. Hope that he is working on a plan that mothers and fathers will have opportunities so they can have healthy families. People are desperate for a leader that speaks to them, not for them. What are you afraid of Mr Zuma? When HIV and Aids and remain socio-economic related problems, the you should know you need to speak up amd acknowledge our pain. 

Why won't you take this opportunity and give people their dignity back? This country's history does not allow Helen Zille to be the kind of person that would convincingly give us our dignity back. By virtue of her skin colour she has social power. She knows nothing about having one's dignity stripped. 

So why won't you be the defender of our dignity? Is it because she is a woman? What is it that makes you think we don't want to hear you trying to give us our dignity back? Are you so sure of victory that you are already planning for your inauguration?