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FIRE BASIC EDUCATION MINISTER

OKAY, enough is enough. When is the minister of education and all her lackeys going to be fired? Our constitution says every child has the right to equal education. Really? Just read the front page of The Herald yesterday (“Textbook debacle”). This is nothing new, it’s been going on for years! Cry our beloved country. VAL

LAW COURTS GOVERNING SA

THE ANC may rule, but it cannot govern. The law courts must do that for this country. LEO, ST FRANCIS BAY

SOCIAL GRANTS CRISIS

THE unbalanced view of putting gender before ability has hit the government hard. Both Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane have proved to be arrogant, inept and clueless in their posts. Time to fire them and put someone regardless of gender in the position to put the train (albeit a gravy train) back on track. JOHN SCOTT, HUMANSDORP

THE grants crisis worsens (“D-Day looms as Dlamini set to account for social grants crisis”, March 6). The inevitable conclusion must be that Jacob Zuma puts incompetent ministers in place so they are even more supportive of him to keep them in their jobs when they fail. In this case the poorest of the poor will suffer. JC

CAN someone explain why the company that handled Sassa payments in the past could not continue doing so indefinitely? Why change something that works? Is there anything in this country that’s not falling apart? UNFORTUNATE CITIZEN

THE existing contract between the Department of Social Development and Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) was declared illegal by the Constitutional Court in 2013. It lapses on March 31. A new contract between the two would need Treasury approval. – The editor

THANK YOU FOR INFORMATIVE ARTICLES

THANK you, Ntombesizwe Botha, for the informative and well researched articles on special needs education (“Special needs struggle”, March 6). I was an educational psychologist in special education in KZN for 20 years and found the same problems there. THEO MARAIS, PLETTENBERG BAY

WHAT DO STUDENTS ACTUALLY WANT?

“SA universities haven’t taken transformation far enough” (March 3): I enjoyed Zolisa Marawu’s article, but would one of these de-colonialist and transformation protagonists please define what it is? One can’t have protest after protest when you actually haven’t quantified what you are protesting about. How can you get it if you don’t know what it is? GECKO

PAYS FOR OWN TICKET

WHAT a disgrace that ex-EP Cricket chief executive Dave Emslie must buy his own ticket to watch the Warriors play. BIG G

METRO POLICE MUST HAVE HIGH STANDARDS

EDITORIAL comment, March 3 (“Bay’s metro cops on the beat at last”): metro police must be kept to the highest standards. In that case, they must be reminded that it is against the law to use cellphones or not wear seatbelts while driving. LYNN

WATSON OUT OF EP RUGBY AT LAST

AT last, Cheeky Watson is gone (“Cheeky bows out”, March 1). What took him so long? Let’s pray the name Watson is never again associated with EP Rugby. In that case, they must be reminded that it is against the law to use cellphones or not wear seatbelts while driving. IAN LABUSCHAGNE

DRUGS CONCERN

HEROIN, cocaine, dagga – take your pick! There have been big busts of these drugs at O R Tambo Airport. The question is how many kilograms of drugs have slipped into SA due to criminal officials! God help SA if our kids get addicted to these drugs. Violent crime stats will go through the roof. TONY HILL

DEAD DOG DUMPED

TO the person who wrapped a dead dog in a blue plastic bag and dumped in Aubrey Street, shame on you! GIGI

REPLIES TO READERS’ COMMENT

METER readings: allow me to echo Peter’s view about electricity and water readings (“Incompetent municipality”, March 3). I also record my readings daily with dates so I know what my account readings should be. I also get estimated readings despite providing precise readings. G GOOSEN

AGREE 100% with you, Dawood Beydon (“Matric’s proud achievement”, March 6). All the best, Vanquero Augustine. Your hard work paid off and your peers are aspiring to do the same. MAYA

WHY CAN’T SECURITY BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

CAN some legal expert tell us why armed response and other anti-theft devices in our homes are not tax deductible, or at least VAT free! Is it not the government’s responsibility to guarantee the safety of its citizens? HOMEOWNER