Racism won't aid economy: iLIVE

The letter Tirhani Mabunda wrote about the subject of black advancement made interesting reading ("Loubser gave whitewashed version of the SA economy", October 26).

Yet he fails to admit that our education system is responsible for so many black people being denied opportunities for advancement.

He should also realise that most senior managers arrive at their positions after many years of experience in learning the job; they didn't try to run before they could walk.

His myopic view that discredited whites have no right to criticise how South Africa turns out is a ridiculous view to hold. After all, we are all South Africans with a vested interest in our country's success and it is obvious that white enterprise plays a significant role in all spheres of the country.

His claim that white business is responsible for the mess in the public sector is laughable. If it had any influence at all, the disgraceful mess would have been avoided and corruption reduced. - Ted O'Connor, Albertskroon

IT IS a pity that seemingly intelligent people have to play the race card, which destroys an otherwise intelligent argument.

When someone attacks the person who makes a statement instead of the statement, it indicates a lack of confidence in his argument.

The facts in Mabunda's letter could be condensed to four lines. The rest are insults and rants.

The ANC has been in power since 1994. The apartheid government is long gone . The ANC government, not the apartheid government, is the reason we are in this mess. And loyal followers who keep casting their vote for the ANC, support this mess. - Hendrik Beukes, Port Elizabeth

• EXCUSES are the enemy of success. Many blacks succeeded during apartheid. They never sat back and said: "I can't get anywhere because I am black."

• A recent survey established that educated blacks in South Africa had a 37% better chance of finding employment than whites with the same level of education.

• Many whites have left the country because they could either not find suitable work or they were discriminated against in the workplace.

• Did I benefit from apartheid? Yes. Would I have been better off had my forefathers remained in Europe? Most probably, yes.

• Have blacks benefited from the colonists? If you understand your history, your answer would be yes. We all know that apartheid was evil and everyone would have been much better off had there been no racist policies - and the same applies today.

Unfortunately, we can't change history. We need to count our blessings.