This is where you all came from, Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s racist attack on four congresswomen who are US citizens of colour reminds me of apartheid, when we were herded into our own group areas and told to go back to where we came from.

All people are migrants and all are Africans because we all migrated out of Africa. One group left Africa about 40,000 years ago and went to Asia, then over the land bridge that connected Asia with North America. The next group split off from the Asian group in the Middle East, went to Europe and then 300 years ago migrated to North America. Two hundred years ago, another group were brought to the US directly from Africa as slaves.

Thus, the Americas are a melting pot of Africans arriving at different times and from different directions. For Trump to say the four congresswomen must go back to Africa is the height of Mamparadom. This racism is greatly damaging the US’s image.

He is actually the president of the European far right, not of the free world. Naushad Omar, Athlone, Cape Town

Recovering from Zuma a hard road

Former president Jacob Zuma’s testimony before the Zondo commission is a fresh reminder that it will take a lot more than strong intent to remove the ghosts of the Zuma administration.

As we know, and Zuma denies, financial, operational and governance failures at SOEs such as Transnet and South African Airways were engineered to position these entities at the centre of a widespread system of patronage across SA.

It is folly to think that President Cyril Ramaphosa can root out more than a decade of political interference in key state institutions overnight. But he can dismantle this system, reduce corruption, and bring about significant reforms.

Shamila Batohi’s appointment as National Prosecuting Authority head was a positive step towards increased accountability and sustained institutional reform. Batohi will have to leave absolutely no room to manoeuvre when she eventually acts against some of the biggest culprits — and against significant odds.

The signing of the Public Audit Amendment Bill into law last year was another good sign. The auditor-general’s office now has the power to sanction state entities and government departments when they flout the Public Finance Management Act, and to hold those implicated personally liable.

President Ramaphosa must tread carefully yet decisively to set in place a system of radical institutional reform without triggering an internal political crisis. But with a deft touch and strong, independent leaders in key institutions, in concert with business leadership, his chances are good.

Adam Craker, CEO, IQbusiness

Fruit juice shall set us free

We have higher taxes on sugary drinks in order to curb obesity. I pose this question: why not lower the cost of natural fruit and vegetable juices instead?

On average, the cost of natural juices is twice or even thrice the cost of sugary drinks. As a result of this, eating healthily is considered to be too expensive, especially for low-income families.

SA is a country with an abundance of fruit, hence the production of local juices should not be as costly in comparison to the amount of money spent on imported, unhealthy beverages. Another point of concern is the amount of promotion done to make sugary drinks more popular.

The results of these actions have affected South Africans tremendously, as type 2 diabetes mellitus, or “sugar diabetes”, is one of the most common biochemical disorders in all age groups.

Although we are responsible for our health and the health of our children, it is right for us to feel that our political leaders are doing everything they can to ensure the general public is in top-notch health. After all, aren’t we their main priority?

Nilofar Dawood, Durban

Thanks, Johnny, for waking me up

Yes, Johnny — you getting dragged away by cops for singing some lame song on an ordinary day outside Sunnyside Park in Pretoria in 1981 might have been just one more gig for you, but it awakened something in me. I was just 17, but you brainwashed me.

I started not quite believing everything I heard, I started to question. My ears opened up. More importantly my heart opened up. The scales fell off my eyes and I saw what was going on. I’m a better person for you having lived. Thank you.

Tim Hendon, Centurion

A way forward for digital textbooks

I refer to the article “Text or screen?” (Sunday Times, July 14). Most of the comments came from private schools.

There is a way forward by using eclectic methods in the preparation of digital textbook technology. These methods have been completed for many Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements subjects and are being used in a few state schools (grades R to 9, especially in the sciences).

The digital technology involves two lines of preparation. Firstly, there are PowerPoints with voice-overs. In each file the worded text is on the left and its related graphics and photos on the right. Although the files have voice-overs related to the worded text, these can be ignored. The teacher can discuss each file’s contents and teach reading at the same time.

The next line of technology involves the conversion of the same PowerPoints (with voice-overs) to video. This is just to emphasise the classroom practice.

Printed textbooks are big money. Literacy becomes an issue because it’s not taught.

QX Nobin, Pietermaritzburg

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