Recognise treason, and let punishment fit the crime

After years of open proceedings, the Zondo commission is releasing its findings, and it is shocking to see how some criminal South Africans have methodically gutted our country. Who would do such things unless they did not consider themselves to be South Africans? The Guptas, despite getting South African passports, cannot be considered South Africans, but the Gigabas, Zumas, Browns, Magashules, Molefes, Myenis, Mkhizes are South Africans who systematically worked to destroy their country.

It can be argued that they were looking for the total downfall of SA and replacing the duly elected government with a cabal to serve only them. But their simple and wanton greed does not account for the methodical and systematic dismemberment of the pillars of SA.

I believe they are traitors and should be tried for that. The evidence from the commission is damning and civil society demands justice. We hear that some of the criminals have given the money back so they argue they are now free. No, never. Civil society has suffered at the hands of every brigand who has stolen from us; after all, it is our money.

We must demand that prosecutions start immediately. Certainly, the authorities have had the time to prepare.

As regards the Guptas, I would recommend an Adolf Eichmann approach: they must be apprehended at all costs and face the music as a matter of urgency.

While we are at it, I believe the state must take the theft and pillage of our infrastructure far more seriously, and impose mandatory minimum prison sentences in the order of 10 years for such crimes. And keep the perpetrators in jail for that period. I hear that in Zimbabwe the sentence for cable theft is 10 years per metre of cable stolen.

Dr Peter C Baker, Parktown North The farcical intentions of CSA Congratulations to Barney Mthombothi on his insightful and objective opinion piece, “Cricket SA’s harassment of Smith and Boucher is a political hatchet job” (Sunday Times, January 30). He confirms what I have always believed to be the farcical intentions behind the harassment of Mark Boucher and Graeme Smith. In my opinion they are nothing more than CSA attempting to cover up its shortcomings or, as he put it, “a political hatchet job”.

I, too, have wondered why Paul Adams and others took so long to air their grievances unless it was to gain some misguided political mileage. Equally misguided is the letter from Dhayalan Moodley saying all apartheid-era cricketers should be barred from playing for SA. We’ve become used to the charge of racism being used as a stick to beat people into submission — and often to camouflage more pertinent issues.

The current crop of players in the Proteas showcase the best available talent and in Smith and Boucher we have two men who have played cricket at the highest level and were part of the most successful team since 1994.

If Mr Naidoo wants to see the Proteas excel he should look at what has really hobnailed the performance of the team over the past decade — weak and ineffectual leadership at CSA — and leave Smith and Boucher to do what they are obviously good at. CSA should focus on supporting our team, who appear to be on an upward trajectory despite the boardroom shenanigans.

Peter Worman, Durban

Get on with the game

I would like to commend Barney Mthombothi for his weekly editorials. They always seem to get my head straight on topical matters.

“Cricket SA’s harassment of Smith and Boucher is a political hatchet job” (Sunday Times, January 30) again brought sense to all the political nonsense which seems to affect many of our national sports associations.

If CSA used your editorial as their guide, they would close the whole controversy and get on with the game!

It may also help Dhayalan Moodley to move on from his racist problem.

Paul Randall, Matjhabeng

Neil, Joni overreacting

As a longtime fan of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, who applauded their counterculture behaviour when the three of us were in our 20s, I must pull them up regarding their overreaction to sharing the Spotify platform with Joe Rogan.

Joe is fully weird but seems to have a huge support base. It’s not up to Neil and Joni to prescribe what others listen to, and censoring an off-mainstream message is just what these two old stoners objected to all those years ago.

Does Neil rally against Apple Music and iTunes even though these platforms host, alongside his gorgeous Harvest and Joni’s The River, catalogues of offensive “music” like trance, rap and house?

Time to pack it in, buy a pickup and take it down to LA.

Michael Hook, Parkhurst

Deal with the lapdog

How long are we going watch the public broadcaster being the ANC’s lapdog? We have lost many journalists who were discarded for not toeing the ruling-party line.

Policymakers, something needs to be done to correct this before it is too late. Frans Fanga Jood, Devon 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