The problem is inequity, and land is not the solution

The expropriation of land is more a slogan for the desperate than a workable policy.

Instead of focusing on this tenuous policy, the government and all political parties should work to reduce gross inequities in wealth distribution by ensuring that previously disadvantaged people are given opportunities to become entrepreneurs who own businesses, and cease being the hapless slaves of the previously advantaged.

Small and medium enterprises are the only way to make a dent in our unemployment rates because they employ far more people than big corporate businesses do.

One can only hope that the ruling party will handle this delicate situation of land expropriation with prudence and caution before we end up with anarchy and civil war or become a pariah of the international community, something we can ill-afford after years of Jacob Zuma’s terrible leadership.

Ellapen Rapiti, Cape Town

Start by handing over full title

The desire to own your own land or home is a fundamental urge. This is the energy that part of the ANC and the EFF are tapping into for short-term political gain.

But their intention is not to remove title deeds from white individuals and give them to black individuals or communities. Their intention is to keep the title deeds in the name of the state and to allow black people to essentially squat on the land at the whim of the powers that be.

If a black person or community is entitled to a piece of land, why should their ownership be any less complete than that of people who buy property anywhere in the world?

The state must start by giving over title deeds to all those who have already had successful land claims (and to recipients of RDP houses). Next, all farmers on traditional land (including the Ingonyama Trust) should get their own individual title deeds to the land they plough.

The increase in productivity and wealth will be huge and black farmers will be truly empowered and have the joy of land ownership that they deserve.

Greg Ash, Umhlanga

Capital could well take flight

Land expropriation without compensation is likely to scare many into transferring their assets into offshore investments that can’t be touched by the government. Julius Malema would do well to note that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Zimbabwe bears testimony to this.

Terence Grant, Cape Town

Who let the Guptas go?

Our policing and prosecuting authorities had the chance to cover themselves in glory last year by apprehending the Gupta brothers, the chief suspects in state capture, but instead they ended up looking like the Keystone Cops.

Shaun Abrahams told MPs this week that the subject of flight risk by the Guptas had been discussed but because the cases against them were not absolutely complete towards the end of 2017, they were not arrested.

Then he made the astonishing announcement that, instead of carrying on to conclude arguably the most important police/NPA investigation of the century, they all went off for the holidays and the birds flew the coop.

Was this a well-orchestrated performance to slow the investigative process down? Or crass incompetence at the highest level in our police and prosecuting authorities? Heads must roll. Colin Currell, Bryanston

Open up our stadium to us all

Chatsworth Stadium in Durban is centrally located to serve the needs of the local community, yet it is fast becoming a white elephant.

A memorandum of understanding between the Durban metro council and the South African Football Association meant only Premier Soccer League matches would be played at the stadium, with the result that it now stands idle most of the time.

It has been years since any PSL match was played at the stadium. These days, the only people who use this facility are community members who exercise, mostly in the evenings, and schools for their annual sports days.

Safa ought to allow the city council to open up the stadium to development soccer. It should be used by senior citizens, religious organisations, cultural festivals, boy scouts, girl guides, drum majorettes, cheerleading teams, dance clubs, car show promoters and other sports organisations.

It is a facility paid for by the rates and taxes of the Chatsworth community. This community should be given full use of it. Devan and Mary Naicker, Chatsworth

I’ll miss Zapiro, but I’m staying put

While it is heartbreaking that the brilliant Zapiro, one of the world’s best political cartoonists, will no longer be working for the Sunday Times, unlike Eddie Hart, “No Zapiro, no subscription” (Letters, March 4), I am not ready to give up buying and reading the newspaper that has, among other things, fearlessly exposed the “alleged” criminal activities of the Guptas, Duduzane Zuma, Jacob Zuma and his many corrupt cronies in the ANC.

The Sunday Times has dropped a catch of monumental proportions by letting Zapiro go, but I feel we need its brand of fearless reporting, frank, fierce editorials and thought-provoking columns now more than ever.

I am going to miss Zapiro’s marvellous cartoons, but I am going to continue buying the Sunday Times every week.

Grant Anthony Aubin, Port Elizabeth

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