Cliff's 'Dear Government' letter 'worries' the president
Controversial 5FM DJ Gareth Cliff turned to social networking site Twitter yesterday to clarify the tone of his scathing letter to President Jacob Zuma's government, published on his website last week.
5FM Radio DJ Gareth Cliff
Photograph by: MOEKETSI MOTICOE
Photograph by: MOEKETSI MOTICOE
My letter is sincere and concerned, not looking for a fight
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In his missive titled "Dear Government", Cliff called Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande "ugly", said Zuma's children, born out of wedlock, were being unfairly enriched, and railed against abuses of black economic empowerment.
The letter read: "Don't think you'll be in power forever. People aren't as stupid as you think we are. We know you sit around laughing about how much you get away with. We'll take you down, either at the polls - or if it comes down to the wire - by revolution (Yes, Julius, the real kind, not the one you imagine happened in 2008)."
In response to the barrage of criticism that has come his way since The Times reported on the letter yesterday, the Idols judge broke his silence on Twitter yesterday morning, saying: "My letter is sincere and concerned, not looking for a fight."
He responded to the criticism on his Facebook page, saying: "If you're not interested in your country, why should your country be interested in you? President Zuma set up a hotline a year ago because he wanted us to give him feedback. Young people in this country are committed to making it work. Here's a list of things that need attention. Do you agree?
"Looking forward to meeting with the President's office next week to discuss our views further and engage in constructive dialogue. Absolutely!"
By 5pm yesterday, The Times had 597 comments on the article on its website, with many agreeing with Cliff's sentiments.
One reader, called Wonder Reloaded, wrote: "I read the article on Gareth's website and I agree with most of what he has raised - the bling cars, houses, corruption, education, unions and a whole lot of other things. But I disagree with him on personal insults, especially to Zuma's kids, BEE and name changes. I will give 50% on the Blade insult. If more prominent celebrities can join Gareth and raise these important issues, it can go a long way in resolving some of these matters."
Another, called No Surrender, wrote: "If Gareth Cliff had talked like this to the former apartheid government, Mandela, all white farmers and mine owners would have returned all the robbed land back to the Africans."
But Cliff's message has raised the ire of those he has publicly criticised.
Nzimande's chief of staff, Nqaba Nqandela, said on Tuesday that "Minister Nzimande is not going to dignify these rantings of a racist with a response".
Cliff scored a meeting with the presidency after spokesman Zizi Kodwa called him after hearing about the letter.
Though Kodwa said Zuma was "extremely worried about its tone", he was willing to meet with Cliff on returning from Egypt.
Cliff's fans are behind him. Dzunisani Mashele wrote: "If you didn't know who Cliff was, you should by now: He is the white guy who has a lunch date with the presidency."
However, some called him a "white Juju" and others echoed Nzimande's response that he "is racist".
"Cliff is spoilt, untalented, controversial and a overrated DJ who always spews bile just to get attention to make himself relevant," wrote commentator Biko Lives.
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