Peter, I did not hear what Helen Zille said however I can assure you she won’t lose my vote nor that of anyone with any political brains who has voted for her in the past. She is outspoken and says what she thinks and has the guts to stand by what she says instead of obfuscate and generalise and backpedal each time the wind changes as do many of those in the ruling party who just take our money and spend it as they choose on themselves and their buddies of whom you are no doubt one. Why should the ruling party be forgiven but not Helen?

For example, America’s ambassador to South Africa has already warned that many favourable duty benefits that currently apply to trade with South Africa will be revised, to South Africa’s detriment. He also warned that RSA should expect Obama to concentrate on domestic issues before looking at international ones.

And that is his job! He will be the American president, and he will be primarily interested in American issues. Those of all Americans, regardless of race or social standing, as he made clear during his campaign. This princial of non-racialism will surely apply to the rest of the world as well: Africa may well need to be more accountable in order to recieve aid and benefits in Obama’s tenure.

Obama is not a ‘brother’ or ‘comrade’ who will give African dictators like Mugabe a free reign. Quite the opposite. The fact that Mugabe congratulated Obama, where he probably would not have congratulated McCain, was likely because he holds to this view. This shows his misinterpretation of this election, and that is precisely because he views it through a racial prism!

Maybe Zille should take another leaf out of the Zuma book and develop a song and dance routine.