#DearMrPresident: South Africans Write to President Zuma on Twitter · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A screenshot of video footage showing Vuyo Mvoko, a South African TV reporter, being robbed at gunpoint seconds before going live on air in South Africa.
Yusuf Abramjee, the head of Crime Line South Africa, an independent initiative aimed at getting criminals off the streets, has written an open letter to South Africa's President Jacob Zuma expressing his concern about the rising levels of crime in the country.
“Dear Mr President,I am taking off all my professional hats and writing to you in desperation as a South African citizen deeply concerned about the levels of crime in our country. I write as one of the countless citizens who have fallen victim to crime with the shadow of fear following our every step.I write to you with a heavy heart for the many men, women and children whose lives are lost or destroyed by crime,” Ambrajee's open letter to South Africa's president begins.
He went on to advise the president to leave politics out of key appointments and stop “patting mediocrity, uselessness and corruption on the back, sending their servants on their way with a golden handshake.”
According to Abramjee, some 47 South Africans are murdered on average every day. South Africa has one of the highest rates of murders, assaults, and rapes in the world.
Ambramjee himself is a victim of crime. His house was invaded by two armed robbers two years ago. He also narrowly escaped hijacking in Johannesburg in August this year.
After Abramjee's open letter went viral, South Africans from all walks of life took to Twitter to tell President Zuma what they thought about his governance of the country using the hashtag #DearMrPresident. President Zuma himself is a Twitter user.
Referring to Zuma's recent foreign policy speech in which he blamed the West for European refugee crisis, Gord Laws wrote:
You are an irremovable stain on the fabric of this country that is becoming as bad as those others you pathetically blame. #DearMrPresident
— Gord Laws (@GordLaws) September 18, 2015
ALETTAHA was happy for having voted for the opposition's Democratic Alliance:
#DearMrPresident #zuma I cannot begin 2 explain how wonderful it is 2 #VoteDA. They do not embarrass us like u do. @MmusiMaimane
— ALETTAHA☺♥☀ (@ALETTAHA) September 18, 2015
Johan provided Zuma with some statistics on drug addiction in Johannesburg (Jozi):
#DearMrPresident tonight over 1000 + youth aged between 16-25 will use chrystal meth(tik) or #Nyaope in the dark corners of Jozi #addiction
— Johan (@johanrobyn) September 18, 2015
Ntombi Nzimande tweeted:
#DearMrPresident  please encourage environmental awareness in our country.
— Ntombi Nzimande (@CrayKiddNtombii) September 18, 2015
Shaka Zulu complained about pervasive greed and selfishness:
#DearMrPresident I'm starting to think we only have this deep concern for our own desires and totally don't give a toss about masses. Do we?
— SHAKA ZULU (@SAKSYSAKS) September 18, 2015
The Rugby World Cup is taking place in the United Kingdom at the moment. South Africa previously won the cup in 1995 and 2007 under former president Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. Maseko Goodwill expected Zuma to keep up:
Come to think about it… #DearMrPresident you currently the only President that hasn't lifted the trophy with #Boks since the New RSA…😂
— #FruitfulFriday (@Maseko_Goodwill) September 18, 2015
Codename D.U.S raised the issue of inequality:
#DearMrPresident why do some children have the right to Quality Education while others are taught Basic Education..? Who are we preparing?
— Codename D.U.S (@IamFrankTalk) September 18, 2015
A report by South Africa's Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that President Jacob Zuma unduly benefited from security upgrades to his Nkandla homestead, which cost tax payers about 250 million rands, or US $25 million. The upgrades included a fire pool. User Diederick Stopforth thought it pertinent to ask Zuma for suggestions:
@RediTlhabi #DearMrPresident , I am thinking of upgrading my fire pool. What do you suggest,  marbelit or fibre glass?
— Diederick Stopforth (@DWStopforth) September 18, 2015
Brandon noted the distinct rise in public criticism:
#DearMrPresident never in the history of SA, have citizens across all races/class/status so publicly stated discontent with the leadership.
— ▎ Brandon ™▕ (@BrandonDee) September 16, 2015
Sihle Ngobese also seemed disappointed with Zuma's governance style:
#DearMrPresident,We're tired of you molesting our pockets to fund your lifestyle and finance your family & friends! pic.twitter.com/y2ZQxOFR96
— Sihle Ngobese (@SihleDLK) September 16, 2015
Sipho Kubheka joked about Zuma's lack of reaction to the open letter (it is widely known that President Zuma has had no formal schooling):
#DearMrPresident Are you still reading the letter? We all know that you are a bit slow when it comes to reading.
— Sipho Kubheka (@U_Siphoz) September 18, 2015
Finally, Mdu asked President Zuma to at least acknowledge the people's voices:
#DearMrPresident Pls @ least acknowledge our pledge! or are you gonna say "I have not heard anything about #DearMrPresident" @PresidencyZA
— Mdu (@MduShalomNdlovu) September 18, 2015
Although President Zuma is a Twitter user, he is not know for responding to questions or criticism from social media users.