A bad business call

IN RESPONSE to the article by Dougie Oakes in yesterday morning’s Cape Times.

The personal is political, and the political is personal. Political science students are wary of this phrase and the damning realism of politics; especially the so-called realpolitik of the day engulfing the City of Cape Town.

The article by Oakes screams of this very truth when he refers to the snubbing of Israeli help in desalination prospects for the City by our battle-weary mayor, who is mired in realpolitik.

Many Capetonians and those in New York City have family members spread across all three monotheistic religions.

The intertwined nature of personal and political matters are therefore exceptionally apt.

Not reaching out to the best in any business is not good for Cape Town. Israel is the best there is in desalination, according to the article by Oakes.

I concur with Len Swimmer that the mayor has cut off her nose to spite her face.

We are all aware of the complexities of the Israeli state and the similarities which many draw to the old apartheid regime.

On whatever side of this divide we find ourselves regarding Israel, the argument for approaching the best in the business of desalination should not be a political one.

Neither should the decision be made at the personal level of one’s own political agenda. Checks and balances in a democratic state – or, as in this case, a democratic city and municipality – should nullify such personal political agendas.

But then we see the resultant damage large political egos have when they become autocratic. Essentially, I am arguing that the decision to enlist Israeli help in desalination should be a business decision devoid of politics.

Good business decisions for the city ultimately result in good governance. Machiavellian knives are out for De Lille, and realpolitik and its resultant damage to democracy appears to be pervasive. Mark Douglas Frier Director: Research Services Universiteit Stellenbosch University Libraries Bellville