Daily News

If you do crime, do the time, even if you drive a Merc

- JULY LOOTING DAVID GEKKO RIAAN MYNHARDT

Compare goods in a shopping basket versus a Mercedes-benz (of any kind of model). There are many reasons that led this young man with no previous nor pending criminal case(s) to help himself on a grocery store. The pressing one is that, stores that sell food which is a fundamenta­l resource to sustain life were closed, so this young man acted reasonable under a life threatenin­g situation. |

There have been many theories about the July lootings. One being the mastermind­s manipulate­d the poorer people to do their dirty work for them. They were the ones to steal food and alcohol. The big shots then came in afterwards with their flashy cars and 4x4s and went for the high end items. If his man could afford to drive a million rand car he had no reason to loot and steal a basket of food the way he did. He did it because he could – for the thrill. Unfortunat­ely for him he got caught. And now he must pay. The AFU is 100% correct to do this, to teach him and others a lesson. | GAIL ORMEROD

ODDS AND ENDS

The Drakensber­g Lord Shiva Statue has apparently been closed to the public because of buses and prayers being conducted at the site. l have been there and it is in a very remote area of the Drakensber­g. There are very few houses in the vicinity. It is just the few complainin­g. l wonder if an informal settlement or RDP homes were to be built how would their reaction be. The biggest joke of the year. “Your cars have better be 100% roadworthy for our potholed roads.” | JOE SOAP

There is a critical lack of intelligen­ce gathering ability in our so called intelligen­ce units. Gone are the days when officers from these units took their jobs seriously by doing research on the bad guys, infiltrati­ng gangs, arranging sting operations etc. Nowadays, their days are probably spent on scheming of ways to loot their budgeted funds. Makes one wonder if they are really worthy of the title “intelligen­ce unit”. | MORGAN NAICKER

Zweli Mkhize is still being investigat­ed for corruption and yet he is a presidenti­al hopeful. Let us open the prison cells and let the prisoners walk. They have plans to prosper this country of ours. What a joke? I warned many about JZ in 2007, he did not disappoint. Give ZM and he would not disappoint either. | THUKZIN MABASO

EDUCATION

Some of the key amendments that the bill aims to make include: Making Grade R the new compulsory school starting age, as opposed to Grade 1, as is currently the case.

Forcing home schooled learners to be registered for this type of schooling. Criminalis­ing parents who do not ensure their child or children are in school, with fines or jail time up to 12 months. Holding school governing bodies more accountabl­e for disclosure­s of financial interests – including those related to their spouses and family members. Prohibitin­g educators from conducting business with the state or being a director of public or private companies conducting business with the state. Abolishing corporal punishment and initiation/ hazing practices. Allowing schools to sell alcohol outside of school hours. Giving government department heads power over language policies and the curriculum a school must adopt. |

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