Readers’ Views
Nuclear power plans are madness
RAY Hartley is spot on in “Nuclear, come hell or high water” (August 3).
The government is grimly determined to build three more atomic power stations and rebuild apartheid state president PW Botha’s uranium enrichment factory, which guzzles electricity, however much the cost.
First, the argument that we need so much extra power is based on delusional claims that our economy will grow by 5% a year each year.
In reality, our economy is growing by 1.7% this year and has not reached 5% growth in any year for the past three decades.
Second, imported hydropower will cost a quarter of supplying megawatts from new atomic power stations.
We have enjoyed a supplyside revolution. Imported gas or imported electricity generated from gas-fired power stations in Mozambique or Tanzania will also be vastly cheaper than new nuclear build. The cost of electricity provided by photovoltaic means now falls below the retail price municipalities charge.
Concentrated solar power with storage for the sunset peak usage hours has fallen in price to below that from the diesel-fuelled turbines at the Ankerlig and Gourikwa peaking stations.
Taxpayers and electricity consumers must protest against economically irrational decisions to build any more atomic power stations.
— Keith Gottschalk, Cape Town
Music is food of love in Wakkerstroom
I REFER to “It’s about music, not big money” (August 3).
The Wakkerstroom Music Festival is a nonprofit organisation, but money is generated through yearly festival ticket sales and sponsors. The aim is to award bursaries to classical music students at tertiary level. The bursaries for 2016 amount to R90 000 for the first prize and R60 000 for second.
What is the secret? It is a labour of love.
The competition is run by a group of professionals who have volunteered to organise the festival. And the artists who perform do so for an honorarium — merely for the love of classical music, the exposure and in the hope of seeing young musicians flourish. — Lizzie Lack, for the festival, by e-mail
Absa’s role in R699 scheme no surprise
Now why doesn’t “Absa admits R700m exposure to R699 cars” (August 3) surprise me?
When businesses of long standing apply for credit, we are almost harassed with questions from Absa’s credit department. Now this Ponzi-type financing? Really? Serves you right with your double standards!
— Lalapanzi, on bdlive.co.za
US is angling for war to break out
WITH reference to “Eerie parallels between today’s crises and 1914” (August 3), if war becomes a reality, you can thank the Americans. They are openly agitating for a conflict.
The economic situation in the US is becoming dire, and there’s nothing like a war to deflect attention from all their problems.
— listenup, on bdlive.co.za The editor reserves the right to edit letters. Correspondence must include your name, address and a phone number