Inclusive society is the only bulwark against radicalism
THE Sunday Times of November 24 published three articles that dovetail with the nature of racial power relations in the South African workplace.
Black professionals need to ask themselves what can be done. What can be done to ensure that South Africa best uses the human capital available to ensure that we have a better nation with which all citizens can be proud to be associated? What can be done to make all South Africans feel they have a role to play in contributing to the improvement of the country’s global status?
“The Zulu man desperate to join AWB” shows there are black people who still unquestionably accept and even promote the fallacy of white supremacy. Although I find what Piet Dlamini stands for sickening, I respect him for exercising his constitutional right of association. I also respect his courage for publicly showing who he is and what he stands for.
On the other hand, many high-profile blacks prefer to undermine the democratic revolution clandestinely for fear of losing their privileges if they upset their masters.
In “Departing Land Bank chief pulls no punches” in Business Times, Phakamani Hadebe’s comments are spot on: many black professionals want to leave everything to politicians. History is going to judge us harshly because we continue to accumulate wealth and stay in highsecurity estates while our fellow South Africans live in poverty. There are many bodies representing black professionals. How do we assist the government to create an inclusive economic environment for South Africans?
Another matter requiring serious attention is that although there are many diligent public servants, there are others who are happy to be bribed with meals or expensive bottles of whisky.
Regarding the article “Young, black and frustrated: professionals are eyeing red berets”, the frustrations caused by the lack of opportunity for black graduates could lead to what we see happening in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo — graduates working as artisanal miners in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. In South Africa, many people with matric and other qualifications are working as labourers just to earn a living. If these young people are pushed to a level of desperation at which they feel they have nothing to lose, what will stop them from being enticed into a life of crime and, even worse, a rebellion against the state?
The support for radicalism indicates that South Africa cannot continue to have a society in which the gap between the haves and the have nots is allowed to widen further — and so create fertile ground for more social turmoil. — “Frank Miner”, by e-mail
Make quotas unnecessary
I READ Max Price’s article “Using apartheid’s vile tools to try to redress its legacy” (November 24) with interest. I understand his dilemma from an educator’s perspective.
First some background: I am an Englishspeaking, white South African aged 50. I was guilty of not fighting the apartheid regime, except at the polling station, although a number of my friends took a much braver stance and suffered severe privation.
Like most parents, one wants the best for one’s children, and through considerable sacrifice mine were sent to top Johannesburg schools. My daughter, in particular, excelled and got six distinctions for matric. She had wanted to be a doctor from an early age and worked extremely hard to be accepted to medical school. But she was denied entry on the basis of race.
She decided to stay in South Africa and eventually transitioned into medicine. But many of her academically gifted friends who were also denied admission left the country and went to top international universities. They are lost to us forever.
And so to my point: we are guilty of wasting precious resources. And the reason is not racial — it is a failure by the government to educate at primary level.
Surely any policy that actively drives away the intellectual elite is flawed? Surely the solution is to spend the money on primary education so that our children, regardless of race or economic circumstances, can pass muster?
If you look at the world as a competitive place, the long-term winners will be those who best educate their children.
Education starts at primary school, not university. If we succeed early, there would be no need to have quota systems at university level.
Focus on education and our nation will shine. Continue to neglect it — and then shore up the failures by artificial means, such as quota systems and BEE — and we will see a continuing brain drain that will make us losers in world terms. — William Thompson, by e-mail
A simple fix for education
WHAT is the objective of a university?
One part must be to educate the students to reach a standard that meets the acceptance of the whole community.
In order to achieve that, entrance to university has to be based on a certain standard to start with, otherwise it will not be possible for the student to reach that goal.
The solution will come in knowing how to produce these people.
The infrastructure and finance for a decent education is needed — which comes down to good teachers, free education and enough schools to make it possible. — Peter D Knight, Hout Bay
Pity Mbeki his ordinary house
THANKS for showing the houses of the former presidents and the opulence of President Jacob Zuma’s in “Nkandla: ministers got key-points law ‘wrong’ ”, (November 24). Shame, Mbeki’s place looks so ordinary. — Otafa Odinga, Stilfontein
Guptas and key-point bullies
IT is extremely befuddling, this “security cluster”— a dodgy name for a bunch of bullies.
Where was this “security cluster” when a national security point was breached so blatantly by a “foreign plane” landing at Air Force Base Waterkloof? Why was the plane and all its passengers not arrested?
This was a greater security risk to South Africa than the revelations by public protector Thuli Madonsela. Yet these security cluster bullies have threatened Madonsela because she reported on the misspending of state funds on a private residence. — Maya Singh, Chatsworth
Paying for Nkandla in future
NEVER mind the R208-million controversy over Nkandla now. What happens in the future? When Zuma is no longer our president, who pays for the upkeep of Nkandla? Does Zuma have the funds? Or do we, as the taxpayer, have to pay to maintain his country retreat? If so, for how long?
Or will the Schabir Shaiks and Guptas be contributing? Are there other “benefactors” waiting in the wings to assist? — Dennis Davidoff, Cape Town
Revolt against e-tolls
DECEMBER 3 2013 will live in infamy in South Africa’s economic history as the ANC forces e-tolls on the country’s already financially strapped and weary citizens.
The ANC’s intention is to roll out tolling on most major highways in South Africa, thus adding to the inflationary pressure already imposed on our economy.
The government’s refusal to recover the road upgrade costs from the fuel levy, thus obviating the need to incur collection costs at all, is inexplicable.
Sadly, the poor black consumer and commuter will just get poorer, whether taxis pay the toll or not, because the cost of all goods they purchase will merely increase to pay the exorbitant collection costs the government promised to the Austrian company responsible for Gauteng’s e-tolling system.
If Gautengers remain defiant and refuse to buy e-tags en mass, they will send a message to an arrogant government: the public will no longer tolerate having the wool pulled over its eyes. — CB Musto, Wilderness
16 days not enough for women
ACTIVISM against violence done to women and children should take place all year. Sixteen days are pointless. — Stoney, by SMS
Metro police must act on taxis
WHY don’t the metro police add more value to us Johannesburgers by clearing the taxi ranks of unlicensed vehicles, drivers and guns — as well as removing unroadworthy taxis from our roads?
Leave the hawkers who are trying to make an honest living alone. — Wa Mama Africa, by SMS