— Politicarp, refWrite-experimental (rW's new frontpage) politics newspotter
Booker Rising (Nov12,2k12)
Justice Malala Op-Ed: The ANC Is Running Scared
The South African center-right commentator argues that the African National Congress has lost its way in defending its positions as it once did: "It came to me as I listened to presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj accusing DA [Democratic Alliance] leader Helen Zille of racism because she referred to President Jacob Zuma's [US$23 million] taxpayer-funded Nkandla palace as a 'compound'. Racism? Is this w hat the ANC has been reduced to? When looting takes place in front of our eyes, the only argument the presidential spokesman can make is that this is racism? It was the same with Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi a few weeks ago when he suggested that criticism of this kind of spending showed a lack of understanding of 'African' values and lifestyles."