It is time we found the courage to speak up
THE Sunday Times editorial on the lack of action on the state capture e-mail revelations (June 4) refers. These acts of state capture are indicative of a deeply rooted arrogance and complete disdain for us as fellow South Africans.
If we as citizens have thus far not boldly expressed our dissatisfaction, it speaks volumes of our complacency and lack of interest. Do we realise that we are being fleeced? It is our lack of action which allows this behaviour. As the saying goes: “We get the leaders we deserve.”
The perpetrators of injustice threaten MPs and civil servants who want to follow their consciences, and threaten the poor and vulnerable.
In this regard, a common statement heard during campaigning is that social grants will be a thing of the past if poor people used their moral compass at election time to vote out these perpetrators of injustice.
This is a cruel but useful strategy in a country where gainful employment has become a pipe dream and social grants are a necessity for many.
These scare tactics are not limited to the state. They are also rife in the private sector. BEE partners toe the line to protect their newly acquired wealth, while making a mockery of the intended purpose of the policy and legislation guiding it.
We must find the courage to speak, even if it is risky. If we lack that courage, we will have the same conversations years from now.
Come on, South Africa, stand up for truth, speak up for morality. — Alosha RayRay Rwane, Jeppestown
And now we know
HATS off to the Sunday Times!
We South Africans are being taken for a ride and would be completely in the dark had the extent of state capture not been revealed by the Sunday Times these past few weeks.
But now we know about the deals — billions of taxpayers’ money syphoned off by No 1, his son and the Guptas. All that remains is for all of us to put the last nail in the coffin. — Baba Saloojee, Rustenburg
Thanks to brave journalists
I WANT to commend the journalists at the Sunday Times for their fearless reporting on state capture.
In these times of intimidation, they are brave. If it were not for them, the country would be clueless of the goings-on. That is the state of our beautiful country. — Marlene Jacobs, Durban
Ban the bathtub
THE authorities might be “looking high and low” for new water sources, but they are overlooking many obvious saving measures.
The other day I was invited to a large hotel in Cape Town to admire its new renovations, only to find that all the bathrooms (50) have bathtubs.
The city should prohibit the use of any bathtub and installation of new ones, and in hotels they should be blocked effectively to stop their use. — Peter Smulik, Cape Town
The Joko’s on us
BEING the official proper-tea of the Guptas has led to JZ’s prosperi-tea.
He is not above a bit of infideli-tea and has decided to rid his shelves of chasti-tea. Impuni-tea seems to be another one of his favourites, closely followed by impuri-tea.
With no quali-tea or integri-tea left, an evening cuppa of dispari-tea has become his vice.
A traves-tea of justice it is that Jacob’s parting gift to the nation will be pover-tea.
This indeed makes it a formali-tea that JZ will be named our No 1 Joko. — Keith Chipiwa, Randburg
Generation Zupta
“RUNNING out of alphabet” after naming Generation Z (Letters, June 4) refers. I think I have the answer.
Clearly the generation from 2015 to 2033 is to be called ZZ or Zuma/Gupta. — Biraj, Mthatha
DA disappoints in Joburg
I’M writing to you in utter frustration. I don’t know how many other people are experiencing the same drama — power outages at an escalating and alarming rate! I have been living in Johannesburg since 1992 and can’t remember such chaos.
When load-shedding started, there was at least some communication.
DA fault lines laid bare
THE cold war between DA leader Mmusi Maimane and Western Cape premier Helen Zille could well derail the party’s ambitions.
The decision by Maimane to press internal charges against Zille after her tweets about the benefits of colonialism seems to have laid bare the fault lines within the DA.
It’s clear that some within the DA would like to see Zille back in mainstream politics.
The biggest challenge to Maimane’s leadership comes from those within his party who do not subscribe to his open politics of confronting issues with a historical bias. A sizable number of DA members agree with Zille’s stance on colonialism and view Maimane as trying to steer the DA in a different direction.
Zille and her inner circle have built a strong resistance strategy to thwart and frustrate Maimane on
Now, if one happens to be listening to the radio, one might pick up the odd mention that one or other suburb will not have power. I’ve never heard them mention Randpark Ridge. It’s normally North Riding or Honeydew. But somehow we get sucked in.
What is going on? It’s never been so bad.
The DA promised that they were going to do better, that service would improve. Well, they lied! Big time! Is it time to boot the DA out?
Huge potholes in the roads, no electricity, sometimes no water.
We see on the news reports of service-delivery riots — those are people expecting services for free.
We pay top dollar and we don’t get any services either. Should we also start burning tyres in the streets? — Bev Hermanson, Randpark Ridge
Constitution is unbiblical
I HAVE tried to understand some of the most important decisions taken in finalising the constitution. Things such as corporal punishment, homosexuality and abortion.
The biblical laws say a child growing up without being beaten is spoilt. Homosexuality is not recorded in the Bible. God created a man and a COLD WAR: DA leader Mmusi Maimane and Helen Zille issues that could sway the direction of the party. — Kiekie Mboweni, Nkowankowa, Limpopo
Infighting loses my vote
THIS nonsensical, petty DA vendetta has to stop. Leave Helen Zille alone! Get on with your real job, Maimane, which is attacking the ANC. Zille has apologised. She was and is entitled to her opinion.
You can forget my vote unless this ridiculous infighting stops. — Neil Jardine, Parktown North woman. In terms of abortion, the Bible says to kill is a sin.
I believe that our constitution is against the will of the Lord.
Cyril Ramaphosa was instrumental in crafting that constitution. Will God allow such a person to be a president of his nation?
If you ask me who I support to be the next president, my answer will be Ramaphosa, because of his knowledge, understanding, political ideology and his leadership qualities.
All these make him a great leader. But a leader without God’s vision is like a car driven by an unlicensed driver. So Ramaphosa needs to repent to God. He needs to apologise to the nation, and God will bless both him and South Africa.— Ammon ka Msulumane Mhaule, Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga