Known by the company you keep

IT IS said the measure of a man is the company he keeps.

At former president Jacob Zuma’s recent court hearing, his supporters included Supra, Hlaudi, Mr Black First, Land First, Carl Niehaus, Des van Rooyen, all gentlemen of unsavoury repute.

And the occasion was complemented by comments and songs such as “One settler, one bullet”, “Bring me my machine gun”, and a struggle song that “This is our land, whites must leave”, and of course the inevitable “What has our president done?”

For a man whose reputation is certainly in tatters, he is surrounded by people whose reputations are equally in tatters, and as regards his previous requests to have his day in court, he is certainly hellbent on not having his day in court.

He remains divisive and a thorn in the ANC’s side, with the potential to create mayhem in the run-up to the 2019 elections for the ruling party. ROLAND FISHER

Durban AN ATTACK on the port of Hodeidah, a lifeline for over 20 million Yemenis, is likely to have a catastrophic impact on civilians and, in a worst-case scenario, a battle could cost up to 250 000 lives, as well as cutting off aid and other supplies to millions of people facing starvation and disease.

Large parts of the Yemeni population would be at risk of entrapment, displacement, disease and worsening food insecurity, including possible famine.

And this is where the US should come in. Both the Obama and Trump administrations have offered support to the Saudi coalition.

Now, as part of its stepped-up campaign against Iran, the administration is pledging more support for the Saudis; it is seeking to sell another $2 billion in munitions to the allies.

The US should be insisting that the Saudis take the peace talks seriously – and that the Emirates halt their advance on Hodeidah.

The US, which supplies the Saudi-UAE alliance with arms and intelligence, should use its leverage to stop this reckless venture.

The crisis in Yemen needs to end, not just for its people, but for the security of the nations in the region. The immediate aim should be an effective ceasefire, not fragile peace.

The international community needs to ensure this while making sure that humanitarian initiatives remain unhindered. NILOFAR DAWOOD

Sherwood

PICTURE: EPA-EFE A member of Yemeni government forces holds mines during fighting against Houthi rebels in the port city of Hodeidah. A reader says the crisis in Yemen needs to end.