Readers views

Tatane could have been a danger to police

I READ Redi Tlhabi's column "Tatane ruling a miscarriage of justice" (March 31) with a great deal of disappointment. Here is a supposed responsible citizen of South Africa crossing the line by convicting some, or all, of the police officers charged for Tatane's death.

You must be aware that, as a policeman, you face dangerous situations in which a split second can be the difference between life and death.

So when a member of the public - unarmed as he may be - challenges the armed police to combat, what kind of response is he provoking?

The officers condition themselves to be prepared for the worst. In this case, had Tatane grabbed a weapon from one of the policeman, do you know what he was capable of doing with that gun?

The evidence presented in court was the only evidence available. So next time, Tlhabi, examine the facts before passing judgment on innocent people. - Sandile Ngcobo, by e-mail

MY congratulations to Thlabi. Unlike other commentators, her article was based on reason and logic, not on prejudice and emotion.

Although the magistrate's finding came as a surprise to most people, Thlabi's analysis cannot be faulted, particularly her conclusion that it was the incompetence of the prosecution team that failed Tatane and not the court. - Jo Christie, Pietermaritzburg

Focus on the real issues

WHY does the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee worry more about an emblem than about improving sports in the country?

Why make a fuss now when the logo has been there for years?

The logo represents South Africans, because it is worn on the left, where the heart is, which clearly shows that our cricket players are proud to be South African and proud to be a Protea player.

How the emblem is used must not be the issue. At least the Proteas show they support South Africa, which cannot be said of the country's Olympic committee. - Willem Krouse, by e-mail

The controversy over the Proteas' emblem shows how retarded the South African Olympic committee's thought processes are. If the sports body suddenly wakes up to the fact after Cricket South Africa has used this emblem for 20 years, then it has no other serious issues to focus on.

Please focus on issues that need urgent attention, such as the proper administration and funding of Athletics South Africa and our athletes, rather than removing our country's identity from our sports emblems. - A Jefferies, Port Elizabeth

Stupefied by 'rude' judge

I AM as shocked as Antony Altbeker by the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal against Fred van der Vyver, "When the law is an ass" (March 31). I have no doubt that the Constitutional Court will rectify this miscarriage of justice. However, what shocked me, as a spectator, was the rudeness of Judge Fritz Brand towards Van der Vyver's senior counsel during the hearing. - Fair play please, learned judges, Port Elizabeth

ALTBEKER's review of the appeal court's decision in the Van der Vyver case is a rather distorted analysis of the reasons for the judgment.

It is clear from the judgment that the civil case failed because the plaintiff failed to discharge the onus resting on him.

Altbeker appears to suggest that, but for the police's "lies", Van der Vyver would not have been prosecuted. This is questionable.

Focusing on the police "lies" obscures the fact that the prosecution believed - notwithstanding such lies - that there was a case for the accused to answer.

Surely it would be in the interests of the administration of justice that courts resolve factual disputes and decide what weight is to be accorded to evidence led, rather than permitting the prosecuting authority to decide these aspects?

If there was no prima facie case against the accused, one cannot help but wonder why Van der Vyver saw it fit to retain the services of senior counsel and spend R10-million on his defence. - AK Cariem, Crawford

Trying to find some tar

YOUR report on the state of the R74 near Harrismith, "Neglect sees scenic route become the road to ruin" (March 31), highlights the thinking and effectiveness of our government.

South Africa is fast becoming a land of decay with destruction, consumption and neglect replacing building, production and care.

There is no excuse for this road to be so degraded that it threatens a tourist area and causes job losses while millions are being spent monthly on 298 soldiers.

Where is Marthinus van Schalkwyk's intervention, as the minister of tourism, to get the roads to holiday spots maintained?

He is always on TV boasting about the progress in South Africa's tourist areas, but doesn't seem to venture from the wonderful Cape, where he seems to live.

Pilgrim's Rest also comes to mind. This government never gets its priorities right, the fault being that it has too much money to waste and not enough brains to use it where its really needed.

The 108000m² of potholes reminds me of our "Spot the tar" game in Zambia, where a road like our R74 is now normal. - Bob Gillies, Springs

Getting violent on toys

JUDITH Ancer's article "Don't jump the gun on the harmfulness of toys" (March 31) was overthought and impractical.

Instead of engaging with children on the matter, we have simply presented a "logical adult solution".

As a child, I was taught in no uncertain terms what a toy was and what it was not.

We are shocked when we see child soldiers handling AK47s with ease, but happy to let our children run around pretending to kill one another.

Children have no concept of the finality that a gun could bring. When playing, they get up again after being "shot dead".

I doubt that any of the accidental shootings by children playing with a parent's weapon would happen if the youngsters were taught that guns are not toys, and that even pretending to kill someone is not advised.

To a child, the difference between a toy gun and a real weapon is not always as clear cut as we imagine.

Perhaps the Canadian mother mentioned in the article should discuss with her son what guns are made for, how they are used and that they kill. She should then ask her son whether these are the sorts of things he would like to play with.

Giving him the choice to then have a toy gun will give him the control he seems to seek, along with the education parents are responsible for giving their children. - Kirsty, Cape Town

Throwing Brics

HOGARTH'S "Thick as a brick" (March 31) chides premier Zweli Mkhize's spin doctors for "ignorant typos" in captions sent out with photographs of the KwaZulu-Natal government's participation in the Brics summit.

Point taken.

But the Sunday Times should be the last to throw such brickbats.

The story "Ethics committee to probe Pule and her partner" (March 31) refers to one Phosane Mngqibisa and another Mnqibisa at least six times. Does Communications Minister Dina Pule have more than one partner?

The Business Times in "Political hotshots revealed in Gold Fields deal" (March 31) informs us that the sons of two former ANC treasurers benefited, among them Mandla Msimang, son of "Menzi". Could this be a reference to Mendi?

As if to confirm that the malaise of ignorance is not confined to the premier's office, the sports section of the Sunday Times comes up with a gem in "Multiple hidings for poor Swazis", referring to "His Excellency" the minister of sport, Hlobisile Ndlovu. For the ignorant, the minister is a woman who more than lives up to her name, if you ask me.

Need we say more about those in glass houses not throwing brics (oops, bricks)! - Cyril Madlala, office of the premier, Pietermaritzburg

HIV shame remains

THE availability of HIV treatment has preserved life, as reported in "Success of Aids treatment shows a land of possibility" ( March 31), but it surely has not dealt with the stigma associated with the disease. At least not where I come from.

About two years ago a relative of mine suddenly fell terribly ill. It was with dread that I discovered a few weeks later the real reason for her illness; she had hidden her positive status for about three years.

After telling me she had HIV, the relative instructed me not to tell anyone else.

A few weeks ago I went to visit my township and was shocked to hear of another victim who had unfortunately hidden his status and ended up falling ill.

He has been put on treatment, but made the mistake of disclosing his status to a neighbour - who, by the way, is also HIV-positive - and this friend went around the township dishing out the story to anyone who cared to listen.

The victim was devastated, fell ill and was admitted to hospital for stress.

Each time I listen to politicians and healthy people referring to HIV as just as another illness like diabetes or high blood pressure, I cringe.

Aids is not just another illness - at least not to the young people and families I know who are affected and infected by someone living with the disease. - Ann, by e-mail