ANC attitude is a worry even for its most loyal supporters

IAGREE with Redi Tlhabi in “ANC gets personal in reply to ‘no vote’ call” (April 20). It is irresponsible of Ronnie Kasrils and Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge to urge people not to vote or to spoil their ballot.

We fought a bloody struggle to have the right to vote and we cannot let it go because of a disgruntled politician who was unable to fight his battles when he was the minister of intelligence and now wants us to forfeit our right to vote.

However, I am concerned with the attitude of the ANC. I would have liked to hear the ANC telling the good story of the fight against the apartheid regime and opportunities that are created by the democratic state, the good story that not all ministers and public servants are corrupt. We have ministers like the minister of health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who is dedicated to better health for all.

I love the ANC and will always be loyal to the party. However, it should open its ears and listen to the cry of the people. — Thabile Sekhukhuni, by e-mail

Our message is: vote tactically

AS someone who signed the original Sidikiwe! Vukani! statement that was released on April 15, I’d like to point out a couple of errors in “ANC gets personal in reply to ‘no vote’ call”.

We are not calling for a no vote, but rather “vote no”. That is, a conscious act of voting in protest.

We said right at the beginning that spoiling your ballot was an option and voting tactically was another option. We have not “modified” our position.

We have never “told people who they should and should not vote for”. What we have said is that if people are fed up with what’s on offer, they can go to the polling stations (not stay away) and vote tactically for one of the smaller political parties, or spoil their ballot paper.

This is a way of expressing an opinion and of sending a message to the political party now in power. “Have Your Say . . . Don’t Stay Away” is a key campaign slogan. — Ruth Muller, Johannesburg

Invade Mozambique!

IT is unbelievable that South Africa has not taken harsh measures against Mozambique for the ongoing poaching, as reported in “Going to war to save the last of Kruger’s rhinos” (April 20).

This is a case for the declaration of war. Rhinos are South Africa’s assets. They are being stolen. As citizens, we cannot allow this to continue. The time for cross-border conflict to drive these criminals away from South Africa’s borders has arrived.

South Africa needs to lay down a last warning to the Mozambican government: any more poaching and we will invade that country and take over large portions of it, especially areas that border South Africa. — John Weavind, Knoppieslaagte

Arrest rhino poaching ‘boss’

SURELY this Justice Ngovene has to be arrested for rhino poaching, as reported in “Where his cut keeps poacher ‘boss’ in Glenfiddich” (April 20)?

He has admitted to this deadly dealing and he has given lots of evidence.

He will further assist with the arrest of other rhino poachers since he claims there are 20 more bosses in Mozambique.

Please, South African Police Service, arrest this man as quickly as you can.— Mike Dhliwayo, Rustenburg

Forgotten hero of the struggle

I WAS much taken by the interview with Ahmed Kathrada in “If stating our beliefs meant we would hang, then so be it” (April 20). The famous Rivonia Trial statement by the late president brought to mind a man who is ignored, forgotten and excised from the history of the struggle: Philip Wilkinson.

He said at his trial: “Your Worship, I have stated my reasons for refusing to be conscripted into the SADF clearly and honestly. If this court chooses to punish me on account of them, so be it. I have in my heart an absolute conviction that what I am doing is right. I will not sacrifice my life or lend my body to the defence of apartheid. As I stand before you, I stand for peace and justice.”

Every objector, every war resister and every End Conscription Campaign member and supporter was a true hero or heroine of the struggle.

Not only did they stand up and risk physical, social and emotional isolation from the majority of white South Africans who were not prepared to oppose injustice, but through their actions they inspired hope among the black majority. — Rob Prestwich, by e-mail

If Socrates had him for a lawyer

IN practically all reports relating to the Rivonia Trial, reference is made to Nelson Mandela’s speech from the dock, proclaiming that he was prepared to die for his ideals. Invariably, George Bizos’s insertion of the words “if needs be” and their likely effect are commented on.

It may be of interest to your readers to know how Bizos came to decide on adding those words.

Being a Greek, he knows the history of his ancestors quite intimately. In studying the historical accounts of the trial of Socrates of 399 BC, when Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth and not recognising the gods of the state of Athens, Bizos concluded that Socrates dared or challenged the judge of the court of Athens to find him guilty. The judge of the Athens court went ahead and sentenced Socrates to death.

Today’s generation should know that the climate of the times was that the death penalty was more than a hovering possibility. The defending team of lawyers had a duty to save the lives of the accused without undermining the objectives of emancipating the victims of apartheid, but rather using the trial to demonstrate apartheid’s absurdities.

Hence the three words giving the judge a possible discretion of deciding the need for the death penalty. — JAB, by e-mail

Miners to blame for hardship

WITH reference to “Car repos and anger in stricken boom town” (April 20), as much as I feel for the families of the striking workers and the workers themselves, I also reckon they have only themselves to blame.

Greed and naivety got the better of them. They chose to listen to Joseph Mathunjwa and the rest, believing every soapy scenario he drew about the mine owners and the management.

Although it’s true that the management and the owners are reaping rewards at the expense of the cheap labour they use at the mines, the Mathunjwas are also enjoying their lives.

Any salary is better than none at all. At this stage, the economy of Marikana is at a standstill because there’s not even R7 to buy a loaf of bread at Shoprite.

It is with these thoughts in mind that I humbly request the miners to go back to work so that families can go to bed on a full stomach. — Auriello, by e-mail

If babies could talk . . .

‘WHY working mothers need feel no guilt” (April 20) refers.

Why do you have children if they are too demanding and too much trouble? I’m not speaking of mothers whose circumstances force them to work. But what’s the motivation if you’re happier in an office forging a career?

If babies could talk, would they say: “Oh yes, I’m much happier left without my mother all day. We have quality time when she gets back . . . while she answers e-mails, gets supper organised and puts me to bed. Truly, I’m much happier with strangers.”— Jackie, Cape Town

No scandal in security spending

‘GRANT millions blown on VIPs” (April 20) got me worried that here comes another corruption scandal. But after reading the report, I realised it is rather another sensation-seeking headline.

I found nothing wrong with the professional conduct of the South African Social Security Agency’s CEO. In fact, she should have been praised by your paper for tackling corruption.

Officials who are threatened are exempted from going on normal tender for this kind of emergency security threat requirement. In any case, it would have first been assessed by the police.

Each instance your story quotes sounds to me like justified expenditure. Why the misconstrued report? — H Mohamed, Cape Town

Better use for the money

I AM shocked to read about monies used for personal use. I am an unemployed social auxiliary worker. The money could have been used to employ people like me.

Social development has told me it does not have money. I do not know where am I supposed to find work. — GK Kgwadi, by SMS

Barron skewered Red Ronnie

CHRIS Barron is the Gerrie Nel of the political cross-examination, “So many questions” (April 21). Just as Nel has had witnesses squirming in the Oscar Pistorius trial, so Barron’s questioning of Ronnie Kasrils left the former ANC cabinet minister with no place to hide.

Kasrils was quick to decry Jacob Zuma’s ANC, but he could not bring himself to say he would vote for the DA. I suppose even the global collapse of communism is not enough for a die-hard commie to see the light of free enterprise. — Kin Bentley, Port Elizabeth