Readers’Views
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Government strangling business with over-regulation
After reading David North’s response to the Competition Commission’s report on the retail grocer sector, “The ‘big four’ grocers are not guilty as charged” (June 23), I am more convinced than ever that the commission is not really interested in regulating competition but sees the fines it likes to dish out as a useful form of income for our cash-strapped government.
It also intrigues me that the commission must rate as one of the most energetic government departments as it seems very active (in dishing out fines, certainly), although, having said that, to take three-and-a-half years to produce 550 pages seems a bit pedestrian.
It is with undisguised glee by one or other civil servant that the fines for errant companies are announced — it could be construed as “take that, you capitalist”!
It amazes me that on the one hand the government pleads with business to invest and provide jobs, but on the other hand seems hellbent on strangling business with overregulation and a variety of threats wherever it sees a chance to scoop some cream off the top.
Do the various departments actually talk to each other?
Tony Ball, Durban
Officials should drive local cars
The article “Naamsa facing grave ‘challenges’ ” (Newsmaker, June 23) was illuminating.
It saddens me to see so many government departments all over SA using imported vehicles instead of buying local.
The government has given a ruling on the R750,000 limit on buying certain vehicles. Surely it can go further and stipulate that they are locally made or, at the very least, that they are bought from manufacturers who have factories here?
Ian Dove, Hout Bay
Jobs claims an embarrassment
The state of the nation speech by President Cyril Ramaphosa refers. Two-million new jobs. Woooow. Why not 3- or 4-million?
Aren’t presidents getting embarrassed by these ridiculous claims about how many jobs the state will create?
The truth is — as Margaret Thatcher once said — that in a democratic society the state cannot create many jobs. That must be done by the private sector.
At the rate foreigners from all over Africa are pouring into SA, 2-million jobs in 10 years will be a net job loss.
As long as our borders remain as open and porous as they are, job creation just remains political hot air.
As the truck-driver strike in KwaZulu-Natal recently emphasised, foreigners are in SA in their millions, getting jobs at cheaper rates which locals should be getting.
Paul Steyn, Johannesburg
Which ratings agencies to trust?
The article “Africa forges ahead with own ratings agency plan” (June 23) refers. Who would the lenders and investors believe? Their own ratings agencies or the African one?
Take a guess.
Johan van der Westhuizen, on businessLIVE