No, you can’t do the D-word to maths

AN ARTICLE relating to mathematics by Karin Brodie, professor of mathematics and education, in yesterday’s Mercury warrants a response which, I must confess, has little or nothing to do with mathematics; it concerns the puzzling title she chose to use. I quote, “Yes, you can actually decolonise mathematics.”

With all due respect, Professor Brodie, you literally can’t! The Oxford dictionary defines “colonise” thus: either “to send people (to a place) and establish political control over it”,eg“The Greeks colonised Sicily and southern Italy”, or, “Ecologically (of a plant or animal) to establish itself (in an area)”.

From these definitions we must conclude that to decolonise means either the withdrawal of people from a colony, leaving it independent, or else the removal, in the case of other living things, from a specific area, e ga colony of ants from an anthill or bees from a hive. The emphasis here is that only living things can colonise or decolonise.

Ergo, I doubt very much that Euclid or Archimedes would agree with the use of the word in the context of mathematics.

However, while we need to discontinue the misuse of the word “decolonise” (which has spread at an alarming rate in a matter of weeks in South Africa), let us rather embrace words like “colonialise”, “decolonialise” and the derivative “de colonial is at ion ”, words which resonate much more richly – especially when used politically! – than, for example, the image of fumigating a cellar overrun by rats (where “decolonisation” is linguistically correct).

If we’re going to speak English, let’s get it right. MARGE FERREIRA

North Beach

Rid cops of these bribe-taking scum

BRIBERY and corruption is synonymous with law enforcement in South Africa. In fact, in all government agencies it is a daily activity.

A month ago I was pulled over by a Durban metro policeman, who first asked for my licence, then looked at my licence disc, which was expired. Guilty as charged I was. I was livid with myself for overlooking that by 24 days. I used to get a reminder, but I was told that does not happen any more.

The metro police officer was over the moon. He informed me I was in big trouble and my car was going to be impounded. He ran off to another police officer, then ran back to inform me that he could help me. So I played along and acted as if I did not know what he was talking about. He proceeded to ask me how much money I was carrying. I told him I did not have any.

He asked for R200 and informed me he wouldn’t write the ticket. I insisted he give me the ticket. This made him very angry. I ended up getting the ticket.

Last week I was stopped again by an officer who insisted I had failed to comply with stop sign rules. He showed me a copy of a ticket for the same offence and the fine indicated was R2 500. And by the way, I did stop at that sign, so when I protested, he became agitated and began to shout.

I calmed down and told him to go ahead with the ticket. He then, like the last guy, asked me straight out how much money I had for him. I told him I was not prepared to pay the bribe. He went on to say how stupid I was to not do a trade-off for a R2 500 ticket.

He even called a female colleague, who asked me to just give anything I had. I refused and told them I was not prepared to give a bribe and if he felt I was wrong, he should write out the ticket. He told me to drive off and just laughed.

Why is this happening? Why are these officers of the law so brave to solicit bribes as if it’s part of their job description?

I have heard so many stories similar to mine. I understand the frustration of many motorists who go through this daily. The police are supposed to protect and serve the citizens with honour and integrity.

Unfortunately, in South Africa that is not the case. This scum in the police force should be ashamed of themselves for breaching the oath they take. BENNY SINGH Durban

Peaceful students don’t burn things

I READ the article “Students and clergy march to city hall” with incredulity and not a little amusement. If students have been peaceful, then who has been burning lecture halls, libraries and other university property?

If students are peaceful, then who has been throwing stones, bricks and rocks during the “peaceful” riots? Intellectuals generally don’t resort to such behaviour unless my understanding of the term is faulty.

It seems to me that whenever those in authority try to defuse the situation with calls for mediation on the issues, the students change the issues. It’s like trying to nail oil to a board. Arrest them all and let the courts decide who is or isn’t a student. No sympathy. RUSSELL WRIGHT

Pinetown

Abrahams is not in private practice!

IN JUNE this year, the Pretoria High Court set aside as “irrational” an earlier decision to drop charges of fraud, corruption and money-laundering against Jacob Zuma, clearing the way for him to assume the highest office.

National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams, in a dazzling demonstration of the independence of the judiciary, then appealed against the decision, rather than simply getting on with the job of prosecuting Zuma.

Once again the Pretoria High Court stood united in dismissing the application for leave to appeal and it is worth noting that in so doing, the judges recorded that: “The applicants have raised irrelevant and non-meritorious factors to support their case.”

Undeterred by such bothersome details, Abrahams applied directly to the Constitutional Court, but the application was set aside.

At every turn, Abrahams avers the independence of his office and insists that his decisions are unsullied by political considerations. And yet he defers to Zuma’s every whim and is clearly acting in his best interests.

Abrahams might do well to remember that he is not in private practice. JOHN GARDENER Howick

Municipality is messing up our lives

IT IS such a simple thing to do to stop the plastic bag situation.

Don’t produce them. So there is no tax collection? Well the sugar tax can help cover that loss!

As regards another total messup: the eThekwini Municipality is causing a lot of problems for the elderly and not-so-old. I’ve had one bill since June and I wrote to them asking for an explanation, as it was impossible to understand what the bill was all about. I have a stop order paying a regular amount on the bill, and only if I exceed the amount do I then pay the difference.

To date they have not drawn my stop order and I get a bill that is less than R100, which is impossible. I phoned and after 40 minutes I rang off.

I am an 82-year-old person and am worried why life is getting so difficult when it should be straightforward. THE BEREA GIRLS Musgrave