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Reading The Herald makes for a truly miserable post Easter read. What is happening to our city, province and country? Businessman murdered in Kwazakhele, teen dies in Westering house fire, at least 15 deaths on Eastern Cape roads, beachfront mayhem in East London with deaths, rapes and civil unrest and that was just page 1 and 2 of The Herald on April 2! Surely the voting public realise that without change, the situation will continue to get worse. The ANC have failed the people at every level. And the ruling coalition in Nelson Mandela Bay should hang their heads in shame. Enough is enough! Free Marketeer

BOK TOUR SHAME

Regarding “Bok tour a disgrace” (The Herald, April 2), I totally concur with chirp writer, The Bull. Only two came, what about Siya Kolisi, our home boy who all the young ones aspire to? Just imagine too busy to take time off to return home. Disappointment for Gqeberha, especially the youngsters, and also the time frame, a few months later after all the euphoria died down. World Champs to World Losers in Gqeberha. Disgusted with the whole structure of rugby administration. Rugby Fan

MISSING TYRES

Regarding “Police forced to patrol in unsafe ‘caskets on wheels’,” (The Herald, April 3). The report details the complete unsafe and shredded tyres of SAPS vehicles. Could this be due to the missing 2,200 tyres worth more than R5m? We still have no finality on this matter from the circus council.

Gordon Upton

AN UNDERSTATEMENT

George Byron writes that EP (rugby) “arguably” face their toughest test this weekend against the Cheetahs. What an understatement. If Free State play their “A” side the only “test” for EP will be to keep the Cheetah’s score under 70. I don’t envy Byron having to put a positive spin on a hopeless cause week in and week out.

Rocket

A SLAP IN THE FACE

Regarding “Anti-crime patrollers given welcome leg-up,” (The Herald, April 4), the DA does it again. What a slap in the face it is for other neighbourhood watch patrollers who are pensioners, some trained through our metro as peace officers and honorary fisheries officers who maintain law and order on the Swartkops estuary. They are authorised to issue fines for non-compliance, all done on their own accord and yet they never get any recognition from this metro or any political party wanting to score some points before the elections. I might want to single out the neighbourhood watch in Bluewater Bay who also helped forming the Wells Estate neighbourhood watch, sharing information amongst themselves who are still responsible for many arrests along the N2 for cable thefts. They also offer their valuable time to attend cases putting their lives in danger, yet they are never regarded as important in fighting crime. These two neighbourhood watches subsidise their own time, vehicles and other equipment at their expense and now all of sudden the DA cares? The DA only cares when there is a slim chance of victory on the horizon. Stop referring to Cape Town, sweep in front of your own steps. Neighbourhood watches are not important to this metro and will never be, in my opinion. ECS

POLITICAL INFLUENCE ALWAYS HELPS

The current judicial circus around the speaker of parliament speaks volumes to the notion that in SA, money buys you a better defence. Political influence helps. One can only guess what the speaker is spending on legal eagles. I only hope it is not being funded out of the bags of money she allegedly received as a “cooldrink”. Malcolm Dodds

MAPISA-NQAKULA’S CLAIM TOTAL INSULT

My salary was a quarter of a million a month, plus free housing, transport, private medical, domestic staff and security, but I can’t afford R100,000 bail, says [former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe] Mapisa-Nqakula. A total insult to the people of this country, many of whom can’t afford a piece of chicken on Sunday. Question: What planet are politicians of this country on, or do they care? Answer: Planet greed, and no. Victor Meldrew