THE BATTLE FOR THE ANC

IWAS appalled by “Matric madness” (August 21), detailing the indulgent extravagance of some matriculants when it comes to their matric dance. Maybe it’s our self-obsessed culture, our desire to capture every moment of our lives for the gaze of Instagram, or perhaps just an unashamed, blatant opulence in the face of poverty — but I really struggle to find excuses for spending R25 000 on one night.

What saddens me is that the girls who went “all out” appear to be proud of their splurge. They revel in the attention they’ve received and claim to have “felt like royalty”. Is this what it takes to feel appreciated? I am a matriculant and I spent a total of . . . wait for it . . . R0.00 on my matric dance. The dress was borrowed, my hair was done for free at my friend’s mother’s salon, I did my makeup myself and I asked my friend with a good camera to do the photography. The result was that I looked just as fabulous, had an unforgettable time and went to sleep with the satisfaction that my experience caused no financial stress.

I’m amazed that so many parents are willing to fork out so much money. That R25 000 could be a deposit for my 2018 res fees, or my start-up money for my gap year in Germany where I intend to work to save up to study medicine, or muchneeded repairs at home, or even a child’s school fees.

But I suppose not everyone sees it that way. Some people are perfectly happy to channel all their money and energy into image, excess and status, forgetting that while they adorn their bodies, they neglect their character and good sense.

— Rebecca Mqamelo, head girl, Clarendon High School for Girls, East London

We are not idiots, Mr Zuma

“GORDHAN dare not blink in the war of attrition over SA’s future” by Judith February (August 28) refers.

I am an ordinary citizen who is very much concerned about what Mr Jacob Zuma is doing to the economy and the country. It is clear that Mr Zuma is desperate to get rid of the Honourable Minister Pravin Gordhan to have his fingers in the pie at the National Treasury through the “yes man” minister who will replace Mr Gordhan.

I would like to warn Mr Zuma: the people of South Africa are not idiots. The citizens can see that he has been on a mission to enrich himself and his family through state funds. Mr Zuma didn’t learn from Mr Nelson Mandela and Mr Thabo Mbeki, who built a foundation for him. Now he is messing up everything done by them.

People are talking in all corners of South Africa, pleading with him to step down. People decided not to vote, or voted against our glorious movement, because they are sick and tired of Mr Zuma.

Further, I want to warn the ANC not to elect Mr Zuma’s ex-wife to be the president of the ANC and of the country. This country needs a neutral person who is not related to Mr Zuma. If the ANC does that it will lose the 2019 elections to the DA and EFF.

I would like to plead with Mr Zuma to give Mr Gordhan his space to continue doing good work. Mr Sipho Pityana did not mince his words at the funeral service of Bro Stof, and I subscribe to his speech.

— Ace Mshu, by e-mail

What about the workers?

“SACP leaders say they would rather go than stay silent” (August 28) refers. The difference between the SACP and other world communists is that the former is concerned about the politicians and the latter are concerned about the proletariat and the peasants.

— M Nqoro, by e-mail

Save us from a Trump coma

“THE making of Hillary” (August 28) refers. Americans must prevent a Trump presidency.

It is said that when America sneezes, the world catches a cold, but with Donald Trump in the Oval Office the saying might as well be changed to “When America sneezes, the world falls into a coma”.

Trump’s Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, is no saint either. Be that as it may, Clinton lives, eats and breathes politics with years of political experience under her belt, whereas Trump has none.

“Better the devil you know” is highly applicable in this presidential race. The words “Clinton the better bet” should ring in voters’ ears from coast to coast and state to state in the US come November 8.

— Sandile Ntuli, Johannesburg

I’ll have my day in court

“‘TROPHY’ wife wins R11m divorce prize” (August 21) caught my eye. Having been in a similar situation for years, I now know that I will one day win my prize in court.

I have been married to a cheat, a liar and a dishonest man, who has concealed assets and funds to enrich girlfriends at our expense — accumulating “wives” and children when he is still married. He once boasted about having more than five girlfriends as he has a naive and stupid wife.

Such acts from unthinking men really destroy children’s lives. Some men prefer to give all the money to girlfriends when their children’s school fees are not paid. Disgusting. Could they be bewitched? I am baffled.

— Interested reader, by e-mail

Watered-down facts

RAYMOND Suttner’s “Why Zuma’s exit is not enough” (August 14) was cheap political point-scoring.

Attempting to drag my name into his sorry narrative is regrettable; in particular, my actions undertaken as minister of water affairs in Carolina in the Gert Sibande district municipality in 2012.

His account is ill-informed. Suttner writes that “the then minister of water affairs, Edna Molewa, said the water was fit to drink”. It was most certainly fit to drink. Results conducted by three laboratories, taken from water samples at five points in Carolina found that the final PH and levels of aluminium, iron, manganese and sulphates in the Carolina water were within the set health limits. The initial PH levels were found to have been overcorrected from acidic to alkaline levels; however, this was swiftly corrected. The health of consumers was not at any point compromised.

I responded appropriately and timeously to the needs of the people of Carolina and also worked with them in clearing the contaminated water caused by various forms of industrial development.

— Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa, by e-mail