Rhodes accusers ignorant

WHAT a pleasure it was to read Erick Mhlanga’s letter, “Compare Rhodes with our African presidents”. It was knowledgeable, calm and well reasoned – such a nice change from all the idiotic, ill-informed rants about Cecil John Rhodes that have been aired.

The ranters, who have been accusing Rhodes of everything from murder onwards clearly have no clue. Rhodes was indeed an entrepreneur as Mhlanga says, and he prospered because he took what opportunities were offered in South Africa and made the most of them.

That is exactly what South African politicians and businesspeople have done since 1994 – grasped opportunities available with both hands, although, unfortunately, many of those “opportunities” involve stealing from taxpayers.

Sadly, unlike Rhodes, very few have given back any of their newly-gained wealth to help others. Rhodes endowed SA with a university, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Groote Schuur and those very valuable scholarships which have benefited people all over the world.

I wholeheartedly agree with Erick Mhlanga’s view that fighting about a statue is a waste of time – and those who have wasted valuable study time doing so will, almost certainly, end up in the jobless queue. As for that hypocrite at Oxford, the recipient of a Rhodes scholarship who has joined the equally idiotic Oxford Anti-Rhodes movement, I don’t think that scholarship will help him, no matter how bright he may be. I for one would never employ such an ingrate. Finally, thank you Erick Mhlanga – your dose of sanity in an increasingly insane world made my day.

Parkview