EVERYTHING Zwelinzima Vavi says is well and good, "What we must do to create jobs in South Africa" (February 12). But I believe the ANC is overlooking a major area of job creation, the environment. Every well-travelled person (including myself) acknowledges that South Africa is one of the - if not THE - most naturally beautiful and diverse countries in the world.

Therefore, we should have one of the highest tourism rates in the world. However, we are at the bottom of the pile. If we nourished and cared for our natural resources as though they were the Garden of Eden, we would create an enormous number of jobs. And so we would eradicate crime as well. If the government investigated all areas where money is wasted (first-class flying, two homes, extra wives, etc), people could be trained and paid to remove all the baddies such as lantana, bugweed, pom-pom weed, triffids, syringas and, of course, litter.

The sides of national roads should be adorned with pristine grassland, stunning trees native to the area, etc. Where possible, the wood from the eucalyptus and wattle could be put to good use for furniture or crafts. Enterprising people would start their own businesses, never mind the extra tourists that would follow! Starting with Gauteng, can you imagine a pristine province: no lantana, no litter, people picking up and tending to road intersections. No crime. It would be a world first, and who wouldn't want to visit? Vavi, consider this dream. - Linda Cumming, by e-mail

I READ Vavi's regurgitation of unworkable labour claptrapand couldn't find one reason why I should "hire one". His wish list of things to do is largely improbable, has already failed around the world and simply continues the socialist agenda of handouts without productivity. Witness the Greek fiasco! Keep an eye on Italy, Spain and even the UK. All done by the socialistic Robin Hoods. I wonder if these modern-day inspirationalists have worked out how many people in our country are actually in a position to "hire one"? Not many! So forget about 50 million new jobs ... that's just pie in the sky. - Tony Jansen, George

WHAT Vavi says is true. However, there is a challenge where people do not want to work for others or not at all. Government should subsidise the domestic work sector by looking at the feasibility of these workers contributing to a pension fund, with government contributing 80% of the employer contribution. Maybe our sisters and brothers will feel "job security" and want to work. - MaVilakazi, Eastern Cape

VAVI'S article on Each One Hire One was inspiring and insightful. He continues to impress our family with his thinking, which applies to general South Africans on issues such as the E-toll system. I never thought I would one day be saying, "Cosatu, you speak to the masses of all colours." - Karin Human, Sinoville

Muzzling dissenters

I AM amazed by the jubilation in the media and of the so-called analysts about the suspension of Julius Malema. There doesn't seem to be any grasp of the real implication of this suspension. What the National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal decision does is effectively silence any voice of dissent within the party. The ANC constitution is so open-ended about what constitutes indiscipline that officials can bring anyone who openly expresses a different view before the committee and be guaranteed of success. It is akin to prosecuting in the country's courts using only the constitution, without any supporting acts and regulations, and with your most trusted lieutenants being the judges.

 The committee effectively takes the ANC back to the days of Mbeki, when any dissenting voice was not tolerated and beyond. Mbeki's ANC did not take dissenters to the committee. Had they followed this route, I doubt that JZ would have ascended to the throne. Is it acceptable that the culture of underground campaigning for leadership of political parties mostly happens within the liberation parties in Africa?

These are the same parties who have a bad track record of failing those they sought to liberate, and who have the propagation of greed and corruption as their number one priority post-liberation. For as long as the ANC is polling close to two-thirds, the democracy within the party should be - and is indeed - more important to Joe Public than even that guaranteed to every citizen by the country's constitution. The one guaranteed by the constitution can be asserted only through the courts at great expense. The vibrancy of the democracy within the party and its alliance partners has been able so far to hold back some of the crazy ideas coming from parliament, ANC-run governments and provinces. For example, Cosatu, through Zwelinzima Vavi, has been the only real "opposition" voice that the ANC listens to. - David Rambuda, Cape Town

Silence is golden

YOUR report "Thumping row over noisy club" (February 12) on the court action a five-star hotel has taken against a nightclub owner must be welcomed by most people, who are sick to death of noise in their environment. I wish more town councils would follow the lead of Cape Town in using existing bylaws to impound offending sound equipment. Loud music, or what is supposed to be music, is a ubiquitous phenomenon in our country. No vicinity is spared the vulgarity of noise, be it a place of worship, a hospital or even a university campus. It is not uncommon to see a motorist driving around at six in the morning with the windows down and an ear-splitting racket emanating from his sound system.

The fact that such people have their windows wound down shows that they are basically showing off for the benefit of like-minded morons. It is time that the Department of Environmental Affairs took a firm stand against noise pollution, because the local police are not interested in acting on complaints. I know this from my own experience of reporting a public disturbance in the Sandton area where I live. Noise in any form is a public disturbance, something the police during the apartheid era knew how to deal with. The present era is one in which, seemingly, anything goes, because - what the hell! - the constitution guarantees us freedom to do as we like. Or does it? - Harry Sewlall, by e-mail

Right diagnosis

ONCE again, Redi Tlhabi has demonstrated her balanced, fair and no-nonsense reporting in her column "Trying to cure a sick health system - one dead patient at a time" (February 12). I am sure she could fill the whole Sunday Times with similar stories of hospitals throughout the country. The arrogance of Chris Hani Baragwanath CEO Johanna More in her responses is breathtaking. One wonders at the criteria determined for such a critical appointment as head of the biggest hospital in the southern hemisphere. I suspect this was yet another cadre deployment or jobs-for-pals appointment. Those who appoint people like More are as guilty as those they appoint. - Don Gallimore, by e-mail

Living with regret

I WISH I had read Judith Ancer's "Keep the best interests of your child at heart when you step onto the great battlefield of ADHD" (February 12) three years ago, when I lost a much-loved son through lack of understanding of the problem. It eats me up every day. More power to you for spreading the word. - BR, by SMS

THANK you to Judith Ancer for her excellent article on ADHD. In a nutshell, she has described the controversies and difficulties experienced when ADHD is an issue. Next weekend, the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Support Group of Southern Africa is holding its annual conference at the Wits education campus, where teachers and parents can find answers to many of their questions. For more information, see ADHASA.co.za or email info@ ADHASA.co.za - Heather Picton, by e-mail

Unwarranted report

YOUR front-page article on Piet Beyleveld was quite unwarranted, "Top cop's dodgy ring" (February 12). Several people gave him gifts, and so did Varda. He explained the circumstances. Also, you did not submit any indication that he knew of Varda's pending investigation. Colonel Kemp stated that Beyleveld did not know of it. - David Woolf, by e-mail