Readers’Views
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Who will accept liability in land grabs without compensation?
I cannot believe that we can expect to expropriate property without compensation and there will not be a “smash and grab” policy.
Virtually every property, including agricultural land, has a liability. Without compensation, who is expected to accept this liability?
Surely the government cannot expect the financial institutions to write off these bonds/loans?
Also, the owners of the property cannot be expected to pay back the bonds/loans if they do not have the right of use and occupation.
How do they think they will be able to collect these outstanding “liabilities”?
DE Ferreira, by e-mail
Cyril inherited an empty vault
The article “Trimming Zuma-era bureaucratic bloat could mean big savings” (February 25) reveals just how costly Jacob Zuma’s mismanagement of the economy was. He bequeathed an empty vault to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
We are faced with a wage bill of R350-billion to maintain a bloated and incompetent civil service, plus the refinancing of our state-owned enterprises, which was avoidable.
Education tops the budget, now increased by billions to cater for free tertiary education for poor students, while keeping employed a high number of teachers supported by the militant South African Democratic Teachers’ Union, so there is little chance of improving the quality of learning.
The failure of Zuma’s administration lies on the shoulders of his ANC cabinet and its MPs, who turned a blind eye to the rampant corruption and incompetence in which he had a free hand.
But our biggest expense is the annual interest liability of R200billion to service our national debt, and any downgrade will further burden us.
It looks as though the increase in VAT is being challenged, so unless the new minister of finance can find Aladdin’s Cave, it is almost certain the country will plead for an IMF loan, which will bring with it stringent obligations and add to our woes.
What a hopeless lot the ruling party has proved to be.
Ted O’Connor, Johannesburg
And a merry Christmas to you!
I totally agree with Joseph Gumbi’s comments about the post office, “Hopes pinned on ‘Mr Fix-it’ to save South African Post Office” (Readers’ Views, February 18).
It has just taken 42 days for a letter to come from White River to Sabie (44km away). Christmas cards arrive at the end of January, if we are lucky.
What chance do the social grant beneficiaries have of receiving their payments on time?
I even sent a complaint about the service. They were going to respond in a few days’ time. That was two weeks ago — still waiting!
Richard Greenaway, by e-mail
A warning to the minister who must decide who gets the deal to pay out the monthly social grants: do not, under any circumstance, give the job to the post office. It would be a big mistake as it cannot execute its core function of delivering post.
Zandel Robson, by e-mail