A man of Vavi’s calibre has a place elsewhere in our politics

WHAT Zwelinzima Vavi, general secretary of Cosatu, did cannot be condoned, but we must not be selective in our judgment, “Rebellion planned by Vavi’s allies” (August 18). It is absolutely hypocritical for people who are calling for Vavi’s head to remain silent about our president and many of our ministers who are guilty of the same misdemeanour.

Vavi’s indiscretion presented an ideal opportunity for his enemies in the Cosatu leadership who want him out. Their reasons cannot be purely moral if they are still loyal supporters of our president.

Vavi must be credited for making Cosatu as powerful as it is with his stand against e-tolling, his repulsion for corruption, opposition to the rise in electricity costs, protection of local industry against cheap Chinese imports and condemnation of the wasteful spending on the president’s palace.

He has prevented Cosatu from becoming the lapdog of the ruling party, which has earned him the ire of that party but made him the darling of his members and many ordinary South Africans.

Vavi’s departure from Cosatu could eventually weaken this once powerful movement. This would result in a loss of members for Cosatu and, as a consequence, a drop in support for the ruling party. The latter might be good for our democracy because we might end up with a stronger opposition party in government to keep our democracy alive.

If Vavi has to go, I am sure there will be a place for him in Mamphela Ramphele’s Agang, which could do with a man of Vavi’s capabilities. If this happens, the next election will be a truly eventful one for our democracy. — EV Rapiti, Mitchells Plain

Work together to save lobster

THERE are once again worrying signs in the West Coast rock lobster fishery — with the latest figures indicating that there has been an overcatch of 50 tons, “Crayfish off the menu as the poachers strike” (August 18).

This is of great concern to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa in light of the crisis in this fishery, with stocks at just more than 3% of their pre-fishing levels.

Despite the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’s commitment to implement the agreed-upon recovery plan for this fishery, there are very real concerns about its capacity to effectively do so. WWF-SA urges the department to not only talk about recovery plans, but also to implement tangible measures to achieve them, as we believe the future of both our industrial and small-scale fisheries depends on it.

WWF-SA is supportive of the department’s new small-scale fisheries policy and its potential to reduce the threat of poaching. However, the key to its successful implementation lies in both the department and the small-scale fishing communities being capacitated and resourced to engage effectively in the comanagement of this valuable resource.

But the government cannot tackle the challenges in this fishery alone. Responsible retailers and buyers should work together with the department, WWF-SA and the broader West Coast rock lobster fishing industry to develop pragmatic solutions to complex challenges such as illegal fishing and a lack of effective monitoring in this fishery. — John Duncan, WWF-SA senior manager: marine programme

This is treason in a bucket

THE justification given by Sithembele Majova and his organisation for the dumping of human waste at Cape Town International Airport defies all logic, “So Many Questions” (August 18).

This is clearly a plan on the ANC’s part to make Cape Town ungovernable. The Democratic Alliance in the City of Cape Town was democratically elected in a poll that was free and fair. To suggest making this local authority ungovernable is treason and should be treated as such.

The ruling party has a plan of action to take back the city and the Western Cape under the name Operation Reclaim. It cannot stomach the fact that where the DA governs, service delivery happens.

In the Eastern Cape, a province governed by the ANC, children at certain schools have to go behind bushes to relieve themselves. In parts of Soweto the bucket system is still in place.

My challenge to Sithembele is to throw human waste at OR Tambo International Airport and at Luthuli House and see what will happen to him.

The voters of South Africa need to be mindful of these actions when they go to the polls in 2014. The power is in your hands: use it wisely. — Mike Wood, Johannesburg

Abbey ruined

PERHAPS not a huge thing in these days of murder and mayhem, but was it really necessary to reveal a crucial, cliff-hanging element in the new series of Downton Abbey? Even worse is that it only happens during the Christmas special, which is shown after the third series. So now many of your readers who also enjoy Downton Abbey have had series three spoiled for them. — Mary Lou Qually, Marina da Gama

Point taken — The Editor

Let down by witnesses

I AM the brother of the late Tim McNally about whom you published a critical obituary, “Attorney-General who let Magnus Malan walk free” (August 11). I remember asking Tim once about what happened in the Malan trial and he told me that he had been badly let down by two essential state witnesses. These things happen, especially in cases with heavy political overtones.

Of one thing I am certain: Tim may have come across as cold and unemotional in court and he may have disdained to defend himself when accused of political chicanery. But I have spoken over the years to many senior members of the South African legal profession who had dealings with him. They all say that he was upright and fair, if perhaps rather severe and unbending. He was a good man. — Nick McNally, by e-mail

No place for De Klerk up there

EVER since former president FW de Klerk was awarded the Nobel peace prize jointly with Nelson Mandela — a prize that many people here and abroad felt he did not deserve — there have been attempts to place him on the same pedestal as Madiba. I believe the inclusion of the poster of De Klerk in the 21 Icons South Africa series in the Sunday Times is in line with this trend.

Granted, De Klerk did release freedom fighters such as Madiba, Walter Sisulu, Andrew Mlangeni, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Elias Motsoaledi and others from apartheid jails. He also unbanned liberation movements such as the ANC, PAC and the black consciousness movement.

The question to be asked is: Does that make him an icon? Chambers Dictionary defines an icon as “a person or a thing that is uncritically adored, revered or admired or is regarded as a symbol of a particular culture or sphere”. Clearly there is no way this definition could be applied to De Klerk. Too many lives in this country were lost violently on his watch.

Second, those who were born in the ’70s and late ’80s know that the people themselves had already unbanned these movements.

What De Klerk did was make formal an existing situation, and he did that for his Afrikaner volk and the shrinking rand. There is no way that De Klerk can be said to be an icon — of any century.

The one thing that most of us can agree about is that De Klerk was the last head of the evil apartheid state, and leave it at that. — Bhungani ka Mzolo, by e-mail

Sorry spectacle

DINA Pule is sorry? Sorry she was caught. Ten out of 10 to the Sunday Times for exposing her. — Tony Ball, Durban

Seek help, Yengeni

ALL that horsepower and Tony Yengeni has not yet gone on an advanced driving course, “Yengeni in big trouble this time” (August 11).

I may be angry because claims push up the cost of insurance for us mere mortals — and the fact that four claims were paid out leaves me wondering how he is still “insured”. On the other hand, I marvel at the luxury brands he can afford as a member of the ANC’s national executive committee.

Well done to the Cape Town metro for taking all the necessary steps to ensure the rules were followed for evidence collection. Life in the fast lane must be safe and we all need to be law-abiding. — Ayesha Ranchod, Lenasia

Can good ever prevail?

WHAT can ordinary people do, “After Guantanamo, another injustice” (August 18): people like us, who daily go about our common purposes, trying to do what is good in the face of evil — the evil perpetrated globally by those in power and therefore blinded and corrupted by power?

This power is everywhere, even in the best of schools, in courtrooms, in corporations. Can good really overcome evil? — Carol, Eastern Cape