Readers' Views: 07 October 2012

ANC must focus on the interests of the nation

TOKYO Sexwale, like most current ANC leaders, is off the mark - "The ANC must adapt or die" (September 30). The issue is that the country itself should be at the centre of everything that every politician and political party does or says. The ANC will only regenerate itself if it brings back the interests of the nation to the core of its activities, rather than being at the centre of everything it does. The issue is much more than just political rhetoric that purports advocacy for uninspired and misfocused change. - Jackson by e-mail

DEAR Mr Sexwale, The statement your father made was to the point and simple, yet fundamental. From that, a significant amount of soul-searching on a broad range of topics are forthcoming. Your conclusion is that there is a strong need for change - fundamental change. A change in behaviour of the ANC-led government would be fundamental, a change that would break the cycle of denialism. There are none so blind as those who will not see - a change that is simple and demonstrates leadership. Mr Sexwale, please use your influence as a member of the ANC's NEC and bring about the release of more frequent audited crime statistics. We all know crime is unacceptably high. The SAPS personnel will have to work harder to ensure their house is in order. We all know it will be the right thing to do. It will be a liberating change of behaviour, a renaissance moment! - Mark Hovy, Randburg

I HAD always been an ANC supporter and became more staunch when I started work in the railways and witnessed, first hand, how we blacks were treated by some uneducated whites.In 1994 I voted for the ANC for the first and last time . However, I'm now a staunch DA supporter. But the day Tokyo Sexwale runs for president I will support whatever and whichever party he is in.In 1996 I told my family the best man to run for president was Sexwale. It was my instinct. Probably even Sexwale himself did not know this. Please, Mr Tokyo Sexwale, be the next president. You have an excellent track record in business, you are already a multimillionaire so you don't need any bribe money. Just use your magic to make a better life for South Africans. - Zahir Danbar, Phoenix

Admit defeat, Kasrils

RONNIE Kasrils's revision of history - "The battle for Africa" (September 30) - may get full marx at a Limpopo junior school, but it won't pass muster at a more educated establishment. His tall tales about Cuito and the fighting prowess of his heroes the Cubans and their MPLA employers, don't bear scrutiny. Perhaps a look at the scoreboard is all that is needed to see his outlandish claims as the balderdash they so patently are.When establishing who the victors are in any battle, one needs to examine the aims of the parties involved, the casualties and the consequence for the military leaders after the battle. Firstly, the broader aim of the Cubans; the MPLA; their comrades in the South West African People's Organisation (Swapo); and the ANC was to install a one-party, communist dictatorship in Namibia and South Africa. These aims were not achieved: Namibia and, ultimately, SA, became multiparty democracies. Secondly, looking at the casualties on either side, Cuito produced the following entirely one-sided figures:Cuban/MPLA killed: 4785 v SADF casualties of 31;Cuban/MPLA light armour destroyed: more than 200 v 11 of the SADF's; Cuban/MPLA tanks destroyed: 94 v the SADF's three; andCuban/MPLA fighter jets destroyed: nine vone SA jet. Lastly, while the South African generals were sometimes criticised for not following up by routing the Angolan and Cuban forces, the generals were fêted as conquering heroes. The "victorious" General Arnaldo Ochoa Sanchez was executed by Fidel Castro on his return to Havana.How on earth anyone can turn these embarrassing facts into a victory for Cuba (and the rest of the gang) without blushing, is a mystery. I suppose it is easier to try to change history where an actual battle took place, than confronting the miserable record of Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) in South Africa, where they were unable to accomplish anything approaching a battle, despite decades of Russian help with arms and training.Selectively quoting Colonel Jan Breytenbach, who was never afraid to speak up when he felt the SADF had not gone far enough, is not going to change what actually happened. - Mike McWilliams, Johannesburg, author of 'The Battle for Cassinga'

The real Raphaely

THE letter "Odious Comparison" from Letepe Maisela refers (September 30). He has obviously not read Jane Raphaely, Unedited. Raphaely was not, by any stretch of the imagination, "born on the sunny side of privilege", nor did she "grow up in apartheid South Africa". She was in her mid-20s when she married a South African and came to live in Cape Town. She was liberal in her thinking and association and was active in the anti-apartheid movement. She is truly an example to others not born to privilege of what can be done with hard work and determination. - Veronica Foulkes, Ashton

I NEED to correct Letepe Maisela's misapprehension as to my background. Though I have had help from various good people in my life, I did not grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I am willing to donate a copy of my memoir, Jane Raphaely: Unedited to prove this.Like Phylicia Oppelt, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Wendy Luhabe, I am deeply disturbed by the sugar daddy syndrome which is ruining many young women's lives, including many who could have done as well as I did, once I got my foot on the ladder of education. I do not condemn any man, or woman, who is forced to sell their body to survive or to feed siblings or their own children. I do despair when I see people with alternative means of making a living, trade sex for money and luxury goods. I hope that the Sunday Times will continue to run with this thorny subject which badly needs more voices to speak out against it, and not those who try to convince others that selling yourself is alright and not harmful to women. - Jane Raphaely, by e-mail

Inaction is inexcusable

IT is a scandal that there is more than R420-million in mine royalties accumulated for the upliftment of the mining communities, which has not been used by the North West government "Unused millions in fund" (September 30). It is pointless to accuse the mining houses of taking advantage of the workers when the money they handed over has not been used. The inaction, which we have become accustomed to, is just not acceptable. In all likelihood all this could have been avoided if we had a committed and capable North West administration. It is quite clear from the report that the royalties account is in an absolute shambles and the chances of it being looted are very high. What is the excuse that accounts for such vast amounts were never audited?It is disturbing that the province as well as the community leaders seem to be totally clueless, all to the detriment of the communities. - Erwin Schwentzek, by e-mail

Hands off, Redi

LET me support Phumelele Nzimande's call for a fair and balanced view to reporting. This is not support for a party; this is about truth and fairness.One visit to the family home many years ago, before Blade moved in ministerial circles, introduced me to a modest middle-class home occupied by a loving family. I was struck by the warmth of a tight-knit family. The sense of loving discipline and parental pride in their children's healthy development made a strong impression. These young people were not neglected in their parents' struggle for the restoration of a nation. They were not spoilt, loud, partying brats. They are decent, hard-working and bright young people and their parents deserve our respect for this.Fight your fight with political issues, but really, Redi, hands off those decent kids. - Elmori Herholdt, by e-mail

Say no to sex education

BASIC Education Minister Angie Motshekga and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's decision to extend HIV testing and counselling in schools needs to be scrutinised. This so-called intervention includes education on sexual and reproductive rights. It becomes ridiculous when they say they will also offer counselling on obesity when many of our public officials suffer from the same scourge. This wave of enthusiasm for sex education which we have copied from the West, ensures that defenceless kids will be bombarded with sex talk and illustrations that would make parents blush. The children will be exploited. These so-called interventions are nothing but the rape of young, innocent minds. South Africans should oppose these permissive trends. - MP Khwezi ka Ceza, by e-mail