Zuma has shown poor judgment all along
‘NENE: I did it for SA” (December 13) refers. There has never been anything about President Jacob Zuma that indicates he is rational, responsible, mature and exemplary in his conduct. Generally, he has very poor judgment.
There are many examples. His befriending of a person of the character of Schabir Shaik clearly indicated that he has poor judgment.
Who can forget his recorded utterances when he said that in Zulu culture a man cannot just leave a woman once she is “on”? And, even worse, when he said that, after knowingly sleeping with an HIVpositive person, he took a shower to reduce the risk of getting infected.
If a person who is a father of so many children can reason like this, what hope is there for the many children of this country? It is clear that with Zuma the ANC has truly lowered the bar of leadership.
His decision to axe Nhlanhla Nene constituted an apocalyptic level of recklessness. What I find disturbing is that the signs have been there all along. There is nothing happening now that should be a surprise.
His poor judgment has cost this country a lot more than rands and cents. It is clear that there is no risk assessment process or weighing of the pros and cons of major decisions.
His untimely and irrational decision has done major reputational damage to South Africa, regionally and internationally.
We cannot afford to have a president who acts first and thinks later. He runs the country as if he is experimenting with its future. — Sydney Mogane, Pretoria
If it ain’t got that zing . . .
“DAGGA activists have high hopes to legalise it” (December 13) refers.
Firstly, hemp seed oil has zero medicinal value even though it has superb nutritional value. It does not contain the cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD — which safely and successfully treat illnesses such as epilepsy, fibromyalgia and various cancers (more than 700 ailments) — unless the resin of the mature flower (bud) has been extracted into it.
This misinformation is costing people’s lives as they buy hemp seed oil off the shelf thinking it is going to help them, when of course it cannot.
Furthermore, the proposed Medical Innovation Bill does absolutely nothing to legalise cannabis. It is a bill that focuses on responsible medical innovation and which states its intention to, among other things, legalise cannabinoids, the active molecules in the resin that contain healing properties, not the plant itself. — Janet O’Donoghue, South African Cannabis Community & Regulatory Association executive council member, by e-mail
What was she thinking?
“WOMEN vote in historic Saudi poll” (December 13) refers. They were also allowed to stand as candidates in polls for municipal councils.
Awatef Marzooq cried. I almost cried on reading further that, despite there being woman contenders, she voted for a man but hopes a woman will win.
What was she thinking? Only God or a lobotomy can help her. Hopefully, this alarming mindset is in the minority. — Vivienne Lloyd, by e-mail
Face it, Myburgh was a spy
AMONG the strange things about Ric Wilson’s letter “Cheap bid for book sales” (December 13) about God, Spies and Lies: Finding South Africa’s future through its past, is that its insults about its author are unleavened by offering counterevidence.
Your correspondent’s claim that I asserted “as proof that Myburgh suppressed stories about the Broederbond” simply confirms his failure to read the book whose conclusions he is so ready to dismiss.
The evidence that Tertius Myburgh, for 15 years editor of the Sunday Times, was an agent of the apartheid government comes from three government sources at different times with different detail, one under oath. All three had reason to know.
Security police captain John Horak made it clear under oath in evidence to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. General Hendrik van den Bergh, head of the Bureau of State Security, and Dr Eschel Rhoodie, secretary of information and the driving force behind the apartheid propaganda campaign known as Infogate, made the same information clear at different times in different contexts.
Why would all three lie in such
Don’t bully Hashim’s beard
“HASHIM needs to find his way” (December 13) refers.
Is the issue Hashim Amla’s beard, his personality or his captaincy?
For starters, the test squad was probably the most inexperienced in the past decade. Other senior players such as Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy did not contribute, and Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander did not feature. Morné Morkel was good but is no Ravichandran Ashwin.
Amla may not have scored runs, but tried in vain for long periods to salvage the last test and provide a platform in the third test second innings. Kagiso Rabada and Dane Vilas should not be on tour. South Africa’s latest crop of spinners are mediocre, which explains why our batsmen cannot play spin. Spinner Imran Tahir, who featured in all four tests, was blasted by an unknown in the domestic final last Saturday.
The lower-order batting was poor and the major difference between the teams.
Now, how do you blame Amla for all of this? Bottom line: our squad was not good enough and no Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronjé, Shaun Pollock or Graeme Smith would have done better. Don’t look for a scapegoat in Amla.
The reference to people with divergent circumstances? In order to challenge my conclusion, a credible reason would have to be provided why all of these separately said something so damaging yet untrue. It does not make sense. They said it because they knew it to be a fact.
My book uncovers great courage at the Sunday Times and elsewhere in South Africa, both before and after Myburgh’s editorship. It is an important paper whose greatness can only be retained if it faces its past with the honesty demanded of us all. — John Matisonn, by e-mail
Ban killing of marine species
“THE ugly truth behind the plunder of nature” (December 13) refers.
The article is really sad. It is alarming how animal life is threatened.
The fact that this is all in the hands beards is a reflection of the writer’s inner feelings where, like Donald Trump, he is not addressing the weak squad but appears to be distracted by Amla’s background.
Blaming the captaincy or his batting alone should not feature, rather the writer — like Trump — has a problem with people who don’t look or act like him.
It is not about Amla bouncing back. Rather, like the Springboks, how will the Proteas find their fire?
Send the same squad without Amla and a new batter and captain on the same surface and they will lose again. — Mr HJ, by e-mail of human beings is obvious, and someone must stand up and do something about it.
Like Dr Boris Worm said, the life cycle is damaged when ocean life is disturbed — 250 000 sharks per day is too much. The killing of marine species should be made illegal, or carbon dioxide will increase vigorously to a point where it will be impossible to combat. — Tumelo Methula, by e-mail