Get the oldies involved

Your article “Leaving for Good”( Cover Story, August 16) resonates with many South Africans. It reflects the continuous momentum of migration that is ravaging our households and the country’s economy.

Striking, though, is the reference to deteriorating university learning environments affecting students, staff and parents alike. It is a sad indictment of what was once a privileged and sought-after learning environment.

Compounding this deterioration is the increasing strain that academics are under, due to a multiplicity of constraints, many of which are documented. Not least of them is the burgeoning student numbers due to the “fee-free” policy that was recently imposed on universities. The resultant stress of this is both predictable and demotivating.

These pressures are inexorable. But there is an antidote: to allow retired academics to render their services at a reduced cost. However, the reluctance by some higher-education institutions to employ retirees remains a serious constraint. Surely this should be addressed in an attempt to [bring an end to] this inertia, which is jeopardising our university learning environments?

Should we not consider allowing the “old people” to work, if they wish to do so? How often is the third-biggest party the most influential, as it can give power to either of the top two. I think the EFF is overplaying its hand. You are either with the opposition, or with the ANC. Since your election promises were to bring down the ANC, if you align with them now you will only lose votes. It’s that simple. If I were the DA I would definitely call the EFF’S bluff. The EFF is becoming more and more insignificant with time. Coalition politics, you beauty!

It’s no wonder the telecoms ministry is in disarray — some of its ministers have a history of links to the Guptas.

It seems a hell of a lot of SA cabinet ministers were in on the state capture thing — they were in the Guptas’ pockets. They have no morals and are only in government for what they get out of it.

A tax revolt definitely needs to be on the cards. Let’s see who it affects the most. I’m game.

To be fair, former minister of communications Faith Muthambi has a history of her head being in disarray, so one should not expect anything other than that.

Rotten — rotten to the core.