Business Letters : Regarding the Zakumi mascot contract, it is disconcerting that Shiaan-bin Huang, being an MP, was able to use his influence to get access to Fifa to broker a deal in the first instance, and then get the merchandise made in China to enable him and his partners to amass bigger profits than they could have in South Africa. "Proudly (NOT) South African" (January 31.)
The fact that reports of poor working conditions in the Shanghai factory are raised makes this issue even more startling, given that these mascots will be sold at high prices.
What strikes me as even more bizarre is the fact that it was patented in China without any objections - it is the mascot of South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. One would have thought we would have patented something conceived locally.
As for the rest of the dishonorable dealings not reported yet, my pledge is we honest, law-abiding, tax-paying citizens not buy their products.
- Pat Padayachee, via e-mail
- I was disappointed to read the report about Zakumi, the official mascot of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, contracted to be made in China. The article also made the general accusation of Chinese factories being "sweat shops".
I have no interest in commenting on who the South African government award a commercial contract to. I don't think it is fair to use the incident to make groundless accusations on labour conditions in China in general.
China is a country based on the rule of law and has established a relatively comprehensive legal system on labour protection. Any violation against workers' rights will be held accountable on the basis of law.
China has made significant progress in its economic and social development. In China, hard work is a virtue that people feel proud of and respect. Yet there are always some people in the world who, because of their jealousy of China's development or their own sense of failure, always find reasons to criticise China.
Anyone with common sense would doubt how a big country like China could achieve rapid economic and social progress due to "sweat shops".
- Xiaomei Zhou, press officer, Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Pretoria
- At the end of the day it seems as if Fifa 2010 won't be benefiting South Africans - other than ANC fat cats and other corrupt officials, that is.
- VD Moyo, Pimville
- Besides Shiaan-bin Huang, the sporting bodies that are involved should also be investigated and prosecuted if need be, taking into account that the project did not give jobs to South Africans as we have all been led to believe.
- Zonwabele Zenani, Grahamstown
ýHUANG should be tried for treason, and the ANC should be tried for gross incompetence for allowing this to happen.
- Gordon Upton, Port Elizabeth
Small business a big problem
WITH regard to the story "Small business in trouble in Gauteng townships" (January 31), the problem is not only in the townships - it's all over.
I am the only black tenant in a shopping centre in Cape Town. I have been a business owner for two years now and the main problem is funding. The business is picking up well but in the beginning I had to take a bank loan and borrow money from family. I am now servicing the loans and I am not drawing any salary yet.
- Mmamohale Anna Motaung, Cape Town
ýHAVING had a successful small business in a rural area for many years, which I recently sold, I have seen the problems faced by small businesses in our country and certainly in townships.
I am not suggesting price control, but how does one start up a new business in the township, when the cards are stacked against you?
There is an iniquitous "old boy network" in this country. A manufacturer produces and creates demand for a product and then proceeds, through selective pricing, to tell the consumer at which outlet they should buy from. The advantage is given to big companies because of cross-share dealings or old friendships.
One, if not the main, reason for the demise of our rural towns is that the locals go off to the big cities to buy, creating a snowball effect of less and less employment in the rural area, as more facilities close down in the town. We need to reverse that so that more people retire and work in those communities, which would lead to more businesses opening there and more employment.
I believe, as a consumer, I am entitled to buy whatever I want at a reasonable price right where I live. I don't believe it would be insurmountable to achieve this.
- David Nicoll, Bushman's River Mouth
