Fingers would point at Mbeki if he prioritised own village

IT IS quite inappropriate to reduce President Thabo Mbeki to the level of headman or ward Councillor (Mbeki’s village of shame, DD, February 27). It would be corruption for any public office-bearer to prioritise his own home base.

Comrade Mbeki is the national leader, deeply concerned with undoing socio-political and economic evils facing the impoverished and underdeveloped majority of this country.

He has dedicated his whole life to this.

The ANC-led government under his stewardship has, among its targets, doing away with mud schools, bringing clean running water to the people and creating jobs for the unemployed.

We have always acknowledged certain challenges that have impacted on progress towards realising these objectives, but in the same vein notable progress had been registered in this respect.

Mbeki, as part of the ANC leadership, has done very well in not only retaining the Madiba legacy but expanding on it.

Both former president Nelson Mandela and Mbeki have always executed well the instructions contained in the Freedom Charter – against adversity from the mixture of hostile elements of the old order, peddlers of lies and distortions, and corrupt elements both in government and in business who commonly have sought to rupture the integrity of the ANC and all that it represents to achieve their own narrow, selfish interests.

While our respectable newspaper is not expected to be his praise-singer, it is unthinkable that you have given yourself the mission of attempting to vilify the president. — Lulama Lancelot Taleni, via e-mail

l IT’S a shame that this particular village is in the condition described in this article, but it’s not fair for this investigation to concentrate only on it just because it is associated with the Mbekis. There are many more villages in the Eastern Cape in this dire state of neglect, and even beyond, and I have been noticing that certain part of this country are getting more attention than others, just because they are associated with certain individuals who are well known politically. — Teb-ZA, via e-mail

l MY GUESS is that the Daily Dispatch was trying to highlight that, if President Thabo Mbeki can’t take care of his own home ground, then how on earth can he take good care of a nation?

It’s true there are many areas in the Eastern Cape that need the president’s attention; it’s nationwide but as we all know, charity begins at home. —Mrs Glamorous, via e-mail

Dangers of blind patronage

TOO much obsession with patronage blindly influences someone to neglect the urgent priority of meeting the needs of the large majority. Thus, such a majority gradually becomes impatient with the perpetual hypothesising about “a better life for all” for over a decade.

This has been exacerbated by the failure to practically uphold the cornerstones of democracy, i.e. public responsiveness, accountability and participation.

It is of paramount importance to embrace the assertion that the role of government (including bureaucrats) is to serve the people, not vice versa.

Are the divergent political affiliations failing the communities who incessantly toil under the pangs of glaring inequalities and deepening poverty?

How I wish more sane South Africans would concretely adopt ANC Amathole regional chairperson Mluleki George’s recent call to revisit appointments of ANC members in key government positions at all levels. This is necessary to build a caring nation, free from self-interest, unethical conduct and discrimination. — Danile Gqokoma, King William’s Town.

Celine Dion concert blues

IT IS evident that problems with the Celine Dion’s concert organisation have happened countrywide. We are in Durban and had a major problem with our R898 tickets. A whole two blocks of seats were misbooked and people were re-allocated seats on a “first- come-first-served better seats” system all over the stadium – from where, in most cases, the screens, never mind the stage, were not visible.

Many people have written in and complained. My various calls and e-mails to the booking agency and even threats of legal action, have been ignored.

The disorganisation is shocking and embarrassing when it is associated with a classy singer like Dion. As for Josh Groban, unfortunately I had already booked tickets through the same agency; now I am awaiting further disasters. — Mariana Joannou-Fernandes, Durban

Valentine’s for kids not on

IT WAS really disturbing for me to see children between the ages of six to 12 wearing red outfits to primary schools on Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is “for lovers to express their love for each other by sending Valentine’s cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery”.

If we allow underage children to participate in such a celebration, are we not prompting them to start looking for dates too early in their lives. This could cause all sorts of problems.

Schools should play a positive role by keeping Valentine’s Day out of the classroom. — Pumelele Godongwana, via e-mail

Boating party gives thanks

THE Eastern Cape is not known for good news stories and seldom are instances of service excellence reported. However, on Monday five of us 70-plus year old birdwatchers were involved in an unusual boating accident that resulted in an outstanding display of service.

We had to swim for our lives and then were stranded a good three kilometres up the Mtati River.

After a long walk one of our intrepid party finally arrived back at camp and made one phone call to the nearby Mpekweni resort. This received an instant response.

Within 20 minutes a rescue boat was launched at Mtati Lagoon, and Mpekweni owner Colin Whitehead and his resort manager Lodie were on their way to pick up the bedraggled and half-drowned group of nature lovers.

We were overwhelmed by their response and the professional and cheerful manner in which they handled the whole exercise. Well done, Mpekweni, we so appreciate your kindness. — The Barkers, Colletts and Wilsons, Mtati Lagoon Resort

Thumbs up for medical staff

ON BEHALF of myself and my family, we would like to convey our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the dedicated and compassionate doctors and nurses of the Frere Hospital non-trauma department, and also to those at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital for taking such good care of father, grandfather and great-grandfather, James Gower. Thank you too to the ambulance driver and his assistant.

Considering the conditions these staff work under, they are quite remarkable because their passion for their work never wains. It is so sad that hospital staff and patients have to suffer because of the corrupt and incompetent staff of the government Health Department. — Judy Anderson, Kidds Beach