Graft on bigger scale

DEAR SIR — I read with interest Hennie van Vuuren’s article regarding corruption levels under the pre-1994 government (A baffling silence on the long tail of apartheid corruption, August 22). Long on innuendo and short on facts, it seemed to me to be a bit of a smoke screen to distract attention from the real corruption that SA is now experiencing.

There was undoubtedly corruption before 1994 — and some of the circumstances mentioned by Mr van Vuuren should be further investigated — including, in particular, the murders of Robert Smit and his wife. No doubt sanctions-busting created opportunities for rogue elements.

However, I cannot think of any cabinet ministers or directors-general who retired as rich men — certainly not on anything like the scale of so many today.

Those who were caught with their hands in the public purse — including Pietie du Plessis and Hennie van der Walt — went to jail. Perhaps, most significantly of all, the Info scandal actually led to the retirement in disgrace of a sitting prime minister. Can one imagine that happening today? Dave Steward Executive director, FW de Klerk Foundation