Making a mountain of a molehill

I READ with concern the aspersions cast by your columnist Farook Khan ( POST, July 13) on the conduct of Human Settlements MEC Ravi Pillay at the civic reception for the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi when welcoming King Goodwill Zwelithini.

First, in my view MEC Pillay is one of the most dignified, integrity- filled, irreproachable and significant leaders to have emerged for the greater good of our country from our community in decades.

I was present at that meeting with the dynamic Mr Modi and noticed the great lengths that MEC Pillay went to explain protocol regarding the king’s appearance there. We are now acquainted with phrases like “Wena lo Ndlovu” when the king arrives, and saying “Bayete” in his praise.

Yes, MEC Pillay did call the king to speak at the podium, and the king said that he should have been “invited” and not “called” to speak.

However, no disrespect was meant by MEC Pillay. In fact, the Oxford English Dictionary gives one of the definitions of “call” to be an invitation. It is one and the same thing.

Secondly, MEC Pillay stated that he was using Premier Mchunu’s first name – Thembinkosi – for the first time in public as everyone knows him as Willies.

The king merely said that we should know each other’s proper names. No harm in that either.

Mr Khan has merely made a mountain out of a molehill.

In conclusion, his Excellency the King did mention in his speech the superiority of the goats in Gujarat state, and requested assistance from the Indian Prime Minister in improving the goats in KwaZuluNatal, and he also called on agriculturists from India to assist rural farmers here.

I think these were quite significant points. JD VEDAN Via e-mail