Following the chaos of the riots and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, it’s fair to say that many South Africans have been left with a bitter taste in their mouths. One such citizen took pen to paper in an anonymous Open Letter to Cyril Ramaphosa – currently doing the rounds on social media.
As Alec Hogg writes, “In their hour of greatest need, communities whose rates and taxes keep the national wheels rolling were left to fend for themselves. Those they paid to protect them simply disappeared or stood idly by watching the methodical, fearless plundering. As a result, many in the previously silent and mostly isolated majority have found each other – and their collective voice. Their ‘gatvol’ factor has scaled a new peak.”
From cadre deployment and failed service delivery to emigration tax and xenophobia, the writer leaves no ANC stone unturned. The mysterious author even suggests that Ramaphosa makes saying ‘WMC’ or ‘1652’ a “hate crime, like the K-word. It’s actually every bit as insulting, and it’s flung about carelessly by ideologues who just are just plain racist,” they write.
The letter ends with:
“Do you want to stay in power? It’s not actually that hard. Treat us all with respect. Equally. As citizens. Who defended you when it really counted. And importantly, in too many cases to mention, the best thing for you to do is just to get out of the way.”
Understandably, the letter has received its fair share of attention (both for and against) across social media, and as usual, South Africans are not pulling any punches. You’ll want to grab a seat for this, dear reader.
“Best letter Cyril will ever receive. If he is intelligent he will take notice but he lacks the emotional security needed to run a household, never mind a country. It is what it is, Cyril lacks in leadership ability,” says
Brilliant, if only this would get to Ramaphosa and he would actually read it !!
This letter should be published in EVERY newspaper !!— bill harrison (@bunter29337560) July 21, 2021
Awesome letter – the sentiments of the people – ANC’s and EFF’s and BLM’s excluded. Hear the voice of the 50 million ‘others’. Bravo, give the writer a Bells.”
Get rid of the inept corrupt cadre ministers, look to Singapore, not Nigeria, you never know people might start voting for you again, comrade.”
The sad thing is this country really needs a coup. Just not the scum of the earth trying to take over, we already have scum of the earth running this circus. Brilliant letter, but our spineless knob of a president doesn’t give 2 schitts about anything but the ANC.”
“I haven’t read something as good as this; it shines the light on everything that’s ridiculous and pathetic in this country, more specifically, the ANC,” adds
Have you thought about any else who could lead SA? He is a man of principle and values
— Jozi South Africa (@REVOLP) July 21, 2021
Tripe.
— Victor Eddie van Heerden (@victorvheerden) July 21, 2021
“This letter smacks of racism and white privilege. Makes me want to puke,” says
This is nothing short of subliminal racism aimed at offending Africans and crafting a deceptive message that seeks to promote their opinion over the masses masked as some open letter but void of any truth. In reality, it sounds like a call to Ramaphosa to tow the white line of thinking and generally pro minorities.”
If whites and most of the population abhor crime and looting, does that make them privileged? What’s your point other than to be racist?”
“Oh. The ever expected and standard racist cry when the truth manifests,” adds . “It’s 27 years of ANC misrule, theft, plunder and destruction that makes many many South Africans of all persuasions want to puke.”
Ag, shame, came too late to the mall, to grab a 65″ TV? My heart is bleeding for you.”
If only he could have the courage for this fight . He needs to see that the people in this country will still fight for it and he will have our support if he just acts strongly!!
— Nat (@Nathan78587039) July 21, 2021
Look into Ramaphosa’s eyes. They are blank pools reflecting nothing of the soul. Does Ramaphosa care about anything? Yes of course he does; he cares about the rebellion welling up in his government. Does he care about the citizens’ well-being or the desertification of the economy? Like hell he does. The cabinet meeting for today has been cancelled and also probably the one for next week. Crisis? What crisis. God but you lot are a pitiful parade of pathetic ponces. Hopeless, hapless, helpless. And, apparently not shy about advertising the fact. Get a feeling of what it is like to be held in the contempt you so richly deserve.”
I would add stop trying to disarm law-abiding citizens who stood in the gap when the state fled or was never there in the first place. The reality none of this will impact Cyril or his org. The only way we get change is if the majority vote for an alternative if only to give the ANC a season in the political dugout. Cele, the minister of defence and intelligence should be booted but again won’t happen due to ANC politics.”
It took 70k of the SANDF to keep us off the beaches, but only 2,500 for an attempted coup? Of the hundreds of thousands of looters involved in the unrest, not even 1% have been arrested. Oh yes, in the next election they’ll be voting ANC. The unrest cost R50bn, state capture R500bn. How many of these are in jail? And so forth…”
I’d like to read one from a native – the overwhelming majority in this country
— Maria ⏳ (@ml_1maria) July 22, 2021
Couldn’t finish the nonsense and never made it halfway!
— ntsako mabasa (@mjayijayi) July 22, 2021
You call this bull crap “brutally honest”? Sies!
— Black Oath🇿🇦 (@MatlhomolaX) July 22, 2021
All true, but hasn’t it always been (most of my life anyway)? Are we at some watershed moment? I don’t think so, unfortunately. There could be deeper depths yet.
— Amrik Cooper (@amrikcooper) July 22, 2021
Everybody but Cyril is reading it.
— Leon Spies (@LeonSpies19) July 22, 2021
Ramaphosa has had plenty of opportunity to step up. He didn’t, and he won’t now. He’s a party-before-country man through and through. He sat idly by for 10 years and watched Zuma destroy SA. He did nothing. Let’s not expect him to.
— Patricia Czakan (@PatriciaCzakan) July 21, 2021
Brutally honest and totally pointless, since Cyril will never read it and couldn’t give a f**k if he did.
— Ken (@IT__Pro) July 21, 2021
If the president was really in power and could actually do something this letter would be peachy, but it’s assuming he can actually do something… The harsh reality is, he can’t, he’s just a figurehead, a puppet, a nice well-spoken black man who’s ‘educated’ and has a calm voice. But let’s be honest, he’s just following orders, like the rest of the so called ‘world leaders’.”
Shameless white privilege and arrogance
— Champy Rules (@ChampyRules) July 22, 2021
“Dear Mr President, I’m white and entitled, my biggest fear is equality, I’m trying to emigrate but just realized I’m not necessarily in demand globally like my folks told me, I’m frustrated and need your help” there @alechogg , I summed it up for you 🥴
— Disha (@DishaSpear) July 22, 2021
This is buzzing on social media ?
It’s neither brutal nor honest, but rather just a load of entitled whining.— Snake-oil removals (@StanleydeJager) July 21, 2021
- Alec Hogg: Open Letter to Cyril Ramaphosa goes viral
- “If ANC has any regard for SA and its people, it should withdraw all NDR policies” – Anthea Jeffery
- Cadre deployment: Why SA’s ministers are so bad
- Magnus Heystek: How did SA get here, what needs to be done – and how it affects investment decisions
- SLR: Responsibility of SA media highlighted by chilling misrepresentation of riots
