A good time to prove we care about our young people

Forty-two years after that dreadful day when Hector Pieterson fell at the barrel of a gun fired by cold-blooded state security racist murderers, we commemorate June 16 1976.

It is important that South Africans learn from the courage young people showed in shaping their destiny despite the enormous odds against them. In 1976 it was about rejecting an education system that sought to oppress them. Today my appeal is for access to skills development that will help reverse the systematic marginalisation of our youth.

I call on the government to focus more on youth interests such as learnerships, free education, decent jobs and transformation in all sports sectors.

The newly elected ANC leadership must be inspired by the late Moses Mabhida’s insistence that a nation that does not care for its youth forfeits its claim to the future.

However, this does not mean our youth must be complacent. They must knock on doors to guarantee their own success — not on tavern doors. We remember and thank the youth of 1976 for their heroic struggles. Viwe Sidali, East London

With rights come responsibility

The generation of 1976 fought for the rights that the youth of today can claim. The Bill of Rights has become the cornerstone of our democracy. It ensures human dignity, equality and freedom for all South

Africans.

The youth of 2018 have an important role to play in preserving these rights. Young people need to ensure that they benefit from their rights by acting in a responsible manner.

Education is one of the basic human rights. But the reciprocal responsible action is to study hard and make sure one completes these studies. Another reciprocal responsible action is looking after the infrastructure used for education. Destroying infrastructure denies others their right to education and future opportunities. Those who destroy infrastructure will not be recorded in history with those who have made sacrifices for a better life for all of us.

Young people, if you are not responsible, you will not benefit from the rights that the 1976 generation fought for. And if we don’t benefit from our rights then the youth of previous generations fought and died in vain.

One can be progressive and militant to address existing challenges, but at the same time still act in a responsible manner. OJ Fourie, Pretoria

The government is not an ATM

The situation in South Africa is disheartening and toxic. The goodwill that prevailed when the new democracy was ushered in by Nelson Mandela has disappeared. People have lost hope and disillusionment has crept in.

Daily news of the murder and rape of children and women, armed cash-intransit heists, political killings, violent protests accompanied by destruction of property, corruption, nyaope addiction, violent union strikes over pay . . .

What is happening to our beloved country when people talk only of the government having to give us this or that? It is as if the dawn of democracy brought a new mindset in which the government is seen as an ATM.

It is true that the government is responsible for the ailing education, health and justice systems, the poor condition of our infrastructure and many other things that bedevil us. But it is our collective responsibility to ask what we are contributing to the rest of these problems, and to take steps to correct them.

Silas Lebese, Giyani

Stores can lead the way on plastic

The impact of plastic on our environment and the ocean is already a disaster and we are destroying our own future livelihood on this planet at an alarming rate. It’s a desperate situation that we are significantly underestimating.

So here is my challenge to the five big supermarket chains in South Africa.

Recycling and charging for plastic bags was a great Plan A, but we urgently need innovative next steps to further decrease plastic.

Can the stores not put pressure on suppliers to decrease plastic packaging? They could create a penalty system for high-plastic-usage goods.

Then there are cleaning materials. A study revealed that the biggest pollution concern was the damage that nonbiodegradable cleaning materials do to the ocean and sea life. Yet you can get organic cleaning materials that are biodegradable.

Chain stores can work together to alleviate this problem without waiting for policy. Please, take the leap now.

Charl de Kock, Pretoria

Time’s up for wrongful rugby rule

The rugby rule that allows a team to continue play after the time limit contravenes the spirit of a sporting encounter. I have seen this allow play to continue for more than five minutes, which is 6% of the total time of 80 minutes, not counting injury time.

Imagine the shambles if a football match went on and on beyond the limit. In boxing, if a fighter is knocked down and the bell goes, that’s it. When the specified limit for the contest is reached, that is the end of the contest, and the leader at that point is the winner.

So why in rugby should the team leading at the end of the time limit have to defend for a further spell of time, possibly allowing the other team to snatch victory?

It makes a mockery of a fair contest. Rugby must change its laws and not spoil the World Cup next year.

Bob Izzett, Paarl

Write to PO Box 1742, Saxonwold 2132; SMS 33662; e-mail: tellus@sundaytimes.co.za; Fax: 011 280 5150 All mail should be accompanied by a street address and daytime telephone number. The Editor reserves the right to cut letters