I recently watched the American presidential election debate between Democratic President Barack Obama, who’s running for re-election, and Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

The intelligence, depth, insight and vision both candidates displayed is enviable. It made me wonder why we don’t have this level of intense, articulate engagement in South Africa when it comes to elections. Surely, given our hard-won democracy, there should be more stringent measures controlling who gets elected to the Union Buildings?

This question is shared by struggle stalwart, academic and voice of reason Dr Mamphela Ramphele. She is so articulate that many of us believe she should start a political party – a call she has humbly turned down.

We wish she would change her mind for she could possibly be our first female president. She is clearly capable of tackling challenging and complex issues, inspires confidence in most South Africans and has held on to her principles for more than 30 years.

Quite simply, she is presidential material. Her new book, Conversations with My Sons and Daughters, tackles issues currently ravaging South Africa – and even her prose style shows she could hold her own against the likes of Obama. Read more on page 110.

Back to our sad reality, once again DRUM bids farewell to a legend – photographer Alf Kumalo, who died at the age of 82 after a long illness. We honoured Bab’ Alf with the DRUM Legend Award at DRUM’s 60th birthday celebrations last year. I’ll never forget him going on stage, camera in hand, to accept his award.

Genuinely surprised, and ever the journalist, he said he thought “he had been invited to work”. So once again, our stalwart Kaizer Ngwenya relates the life and times of Alf Kumalo on page 16.

We miss Bab’ Alf already.