Why all the fuss about leaving the ICC?
WHY the brouhaha over South Africa’s exit from the International Criminal Court? Critics of the court were attacked for pointing out that there were no legitimate grounds for the invasion of Iraq and Libya, except US vengeance. Similar quiet reigned when Britain pulled out of the EU.
No one questioned the role of the Commonwealth in the development of Africa to repair the cost of colonisation. Equally, no one asked why the US has veto powers at the UN, while refusing to participate in the ICC. When the South African government withdrew from the ICC, there was a choir of cynics ignoring how the ICC ignores the crimes of the West.
When South Africa declined to arrest a sitting president because its peacekeeping units are deployed in that country, the same choir sang their lungs out, passing judgment before they analysed the situation.
South Africa cannot be cannon fodder for the West or an outpost of Europe. — Morgan Phaahla, Ekurhuleni
Police lax on phone threats
HOW can someone, in an age of electronic tracing systems and Rica, send a text reading “Next time won’t miss” to an SABC employee (“SABC eight living in fear”, November 13) and get away with it?
Corrupt police is the only way it could happen. — Daryl, Edenvale
MPs overpaid hooligans
EVERY MP in South Africa earns about R1-million a year — every cent of which comes from taxpayers.
This leads me to believe that South Africa’s MPs must be the most overpaid employees in history.
Having just watched two hours of parliament broadcast live on TV, I find it almost impossible to express the disgust I feel at having witnessed supposed adults acting in ways that would be foreign to even the most unruly kids. I now understand the remarks my family in other countries make about the “circus” that is South Africa’s parliament.
MPs find it acceptable to be shown on TV screaming and shouting, making obscene gestures, booing speakers, and generally acting like hooligans. I fail to understand how this serves the electorate.
Parliament’s records reveal that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has yet to attend parliament this year — and still she receives her salary.
If our MPs were employed by any normal organisation, I doubt any of them would remain employed for long. — Tom Lambe, Oakdene
Malema inane, malicious
THE Chris Barron interview with Julius Malema last week lays bare the EFF leader’s inanity and malice.
Despite contradicting his own statements, Malema’s comments remain threatening and hateful.
His “logic” is unfathomable, as are the impossible policies that he espouses. — B Phillips, Rondebosch
Tongue firmly in cheek
THE likes of Wayde van Niekerk, Trevor Noah, Thuli Madonsela and Johnny Clegg are obvious South African heroes, but I would like to nominate a few others who don’t get the nod despite their best efforts.
These include Judge Nkola Motata, who had a mighty thirst for bashing down walls in the quest for justice, and Dudu Myeni, who took SAA to new heights and as a result landed the lead role in Snakes on a Plane II.
Hlaudi Motsoeneng can hold his head up high for losing only R4-billion at the SABC — a R12-million bonus was just reward for someone who got it wrong only 90% of the time.
Khulubuse Zuma almost faded away fighting to get the mining sector back on its feet and Minister Des van Rooyen risked life and limb for junk status — all achieved in less than four days. His colleague, Mosebenzi Zwane, had to endure business class trips to Dubai, Zurich and Delhi on a mere R100 000 budget. Hats off to Brian Molefe, who was 100% committed to keeping our lights on — this bright spark even had the energy to broker deals from a shebeen.
Our beloved President Jacob Zuma is our true hero, though. He deserves to be showered with praise for his stance on HIV. And don’t forget the Guptas, mannequins of whom should be strategically placed in all parastatals as a reminder of good governance.
The homeless and unemployed will agree that our “leaders” have made South Africa a better place for all. — Sipho K Chipiwa, Randburg
Forgotten contribution
AS the editor of the book London Recruits: The Secret War Against Apartheid, I was delighted to see the article “Where were you when the pamphlet bombers struck?” (November 13).
I, with my comrade Pete Smith, was one of those “pamphlet bombers” in Durban on August 13 1970, after a visit to Johannesburg in 1968 when I posted 1 200 letters to members of the Indian community from Dr Yusuf Dadoo, who was in exile in London.
I am just writing to correct a slightly misleading point in the article. It says, “Two, Sean Hosey and Alex Moumbaris, were discovered in 1972.” This is true, but the writer fails to mention Alex’s French wife, Marie-José Moumbaris, who was arrested with her husband. She and Alex had been helping a group of Umkhonto weSizwe fighters to enter South Africa from Botswana (having already helped a group to enter from Swaziland).
She suffered greatly at the hands of the apartheid police but was released after four months.
Her release, it seems, was mainly due to pressure from French public opinion and from the French government.
She then had to wait seven-and-ahalf years until Alex escaped from Pretoria Prison with Tim Jenkin and Steve Lee.
Her contribution, courage and suffering must not be forgotten. — Ken Keable, London