We are not being governed, we are ruled
CERTAIN clauses in the Protection of Information Bill are stealthily drafted to stifle press freedom in South Africa.
Simply put, the bill has been transformed from a shield that protects the nation into a sword that enables the government to lord over the people.
There exists today a terrifying moral degradation, a widespread culture of corruption and tyranny to maintain the status quo, a state of compliance and negativity. Our hard-won democracy is in peril.
The essence of the bill has put the entire nation in a state of real crisis affecting the rights of individual members.
Democracy is the most prestigious form of government. It is based on the understanding that primacy belongs to the people alone (not the party or the creed or the person). It considers the people as a whole, and that they have free will.
The new bill is a shocking violation of press freedom and a clear warning for the media to keep their noses out of sensitive state affairs or face retribution.
This bill should set alarm bells ringing anew over the perilous state of media freedom.
John Perkins said: “No constitution, no court, no law can save liberty when it dies in the hearts and minds of men. The Protection of Information Bill will lead to political tyranny. It will be the road to serfdom.”
Our liberty is under attack. Between irrational laws and the government’s refusal to reason, South Africans feel trapped and betrayed.
We are not being governed. We are being ruled. FAROUK ARAIE
Benoni BUSINESSES need to change their marketing strategy. We have adverts saying: “Free gift with your purchase.” That doesn’t work anymore. We know businesses “up” the price to include gifts.
Businesses would go broke if they actually gave away gifts and still had to pay the cost of advertising. Just stop the nonsense and drop the price. People are struggling to make ends meet.
Another one I find irritating is the size of eggs. Extra large eggs have shrunk to large eggs and large ones now look much smaller. But prices are increasing.
The weights and measures of items in a supermarket are designed to confuse and deceive the buyer.
I bought Epsom salts the other day and the packet was marked 14g. Why 14g? Baked beans weighing 410g – why not 500g? It would be easier to calculate.
We have a huge problem with the pricing structures. We know that when chicken is advertised at R25.99/kg it is in fact R26/kg. We are not stupid.
I have just counted 50 cars with the selling price ending in 990 advertised in a newspaper eg R399 990. Just call it R400 000 – it’s easier and the customer can afford the extra R10.
The other unbelievable one is “up to 50 percent discount on clothing”. It could be 1 percent, it could be 5 percent – it’s very unlikely to be 50 percent. Just put down an “honest” discounted price. KISTEN PILLAY
Merebank