Readers’Views

Jobs will remain elusive until impediments are removed

The jobs summit offered more rhetoric than implementation. Talk is cheap, and, with the radical policy of land confiscation creating uncertainty, there is little wonder only “thought in progress” was on offer, and the forlorn hope that business will be able to stem retrenchment.

Our position is at a critical juncture.

Investor confidence is low, the skills necessary to take the economy forward are in short supply, municipalities are collapsing and our failing SOEs are serious impediments to finding remedies for our ills, as well as the attitude of hostile unions.

Hilary Joffe, in her column “A bit ‘old economy’ but jobs summit was worthwhile” (October 14), mentioned there is a history of mistrust between the public and private sector.

This is probably due to the ignorance of the government and its socialist mindset, which fails to realise that the free market creates jobs.

Also, Mothunye Mothiba, the CEO of Productivity SA, speaks of the poor work ethic hindering our development, “Working smarter key to SA success” (Newsmaker, October 14).

These are among the many challenges President Cyril Ramaphosa faces, and solutions will not be found without the necessary ingredients.

These are goodwill, security of capital, less regulation in doing business, reducing our onerous employment laws, getting labour to understand the important role it plays in increasing productivity which helps grow the economy, and the collateral benefits of increased employment and building national wealth.

But most important is the need for President Ramaphosa to follow up with progress reports landing on his desk every Monday.

Ted O’Connor, Johannesburg

Venezuela, here we come

The article “Venezuelan inflation blasts off” (October 14) refers. This is what Juju and his merry band of thieves aspire to.

The rand has lost 20% this year, and look at how ridiculous the fuel price has become, with the real effects still to be felt, particularly by the poor, in the coming months.

We could be Venezuela in the very near future.

Of course, those in Gucciconcealing red overalls would be cushioned while controlling the land, banks, and so on.

Just ask any VBS depositor what they think of this.

Ger pig, on businesslive

Post-box blues

Your reader H Nyenes is not alone in experiencing postal problems, “Shame on you, Barnes” (Readers’ Views, October 14).

We have had a post box in Gillitts, KwaZulu-Natal. All items that appear financial have disappeared.

Mail that is sent from stores or such places with plastic cards inside is partly opened.

They allow utility bills to arrive because they have no value.

You waste your time complaining to the e-mail addresses because you never receive a response.

Nigel Brown, by e-mail