TO THE POINT
Junk status dodge not a triumph
I REFER to your front page headline on November 27, “Gordhan toasts ratings triumph”.
Our finance minister acts as if South Africa pulled off a major achievement in avoiding “junk bond status”, and so-called economist Bonke Dumisa said he was surprised there was still negativity in spite of it.
Economist Azar Jammine is more realistic.
“The bad news is that all these positive factors are short-term. In the long term there is no way our growth will pick up to prevent unemployment from rising further,” he said.
David Shapiro of Sasfin is refreshingly frank: “We are heading on the path of a downgrade in the future.”
The root of the problem here is a grossly impractical communist ideology. Ironically, South Africa’s strongly communist government is elected by the democratic principle of “one man, one vote”, which is verboten in communist countries. ROGER LAYZELL
Rosehill
Deploy English words correctly
WHY do the ANC (and some journalists) insist on using military/communist jargon when they are so obviously capitalist?
I refer to “cadre” which means (Oxford English Dictionary) “permanent establishment of unit forming nucleus for expansion at need (military); and workers promoting interests of communist party”. I may be wrong, but I don’t think there is a plural spelt “cadres” – it’s like “sheep”, one and the same (good analogy).
To “deploy” is also a military term meaning “to spread troops out; from column into line; bring (forces, arguments, etc) into effective action” (well, we know that doesn’t work).
If you use the English language, use it correctly. ACQ VALENTINE
Hilton
Drastic action needed on beggars
CLINTON Moodley’s City Watch column ( Sunday Tribune, November 27), “Beggars drive motorists crazy’’, is nothing new.
The high number of beggars is of great concern. When we drive through Chatsworth, we see them lurking at every robot and each defends territory which no other may invade.
It has become big business. A young girl on the N2 Higginson Highway turn-off stands there every day and sometimes hires a baby to increase her income.
I have asked metro police to charge her. A lasting solution is needed and drastic action needs to be taken to stop beggars.
It is important to arrest them continuously as this will eliminate the problem. I am sure with metro police help it can be done.
If this gets out of hand, it will be a threat to our community.
DHAYALAN MOODLEY Mobeni Heights