Get Stratton back from Oz
It is extraordinary that John Stratton’s South African attorney would make an urgent application in the high court to interdict the National Prosecuting Authority from pursuing an extradition request with the Australian authorities (February 23 ).
Stratton may be a suspect in the Brett Kebble murder case, but this pales into insignificance when compared to his nefarious white-collar criminal activities. Stratton was the mastermind of the triumvirate that plundered Randgold & Exploration and JCI’s assets in South Africa’s largest corporate swindle. The scale of the alleged fraud dwarfs any other known fraud in the history of white-collar crime in South Africa.
Stratton was the master of scrip-lending agreements and knew exactly how to implement such agreements to disguise the theft of shares. He was aware of the little-known loophole in international accounting standards that allows for the non-derecognition of share investments that have been lent to third parties, under certain circumstances. This technique was gratefully embraced by the late Brett Kebble to retain on balance sheet billions of rands worth of shares that had long been stolen.
He could also sell fictitious mining rights with carefully crafted, fraudulent legal documents, buy shares in companies and immediately onsell them for multiples of the purchase price within a blink of an eyelid.
The courts in South Africa shouldn’t allow such spurious attempts to prevent his extradition. Australia has no need for such a “businessman” and will be only too glad to get rid of him.
Just a pity he will never face criminal charges in South Africa for his fraudulent commercial activities — no case will be brought against any of the culprits for many years. — Disgusted
Swansong for Afrikaner ideals?
Dr Theuns Eloff’s “New Afrikaner unity a call for leadership” (March 2) is ambiguous. The thrust of his article is unveiled by its last sentence: “Perhaps the De la Rey song is asking for just that: lead us, anyone — just show leadership.”
Choosing to be simplistic, the response of the majority of South Africans to this amorphous “New Afrikaner Unity” is that we already have leadership. We have had it since April 27 1994. Innuendoes like “mediocre local politicians or officials who often play the race card” will not diminish the stature of this leadership.
Eloff’s article is concerningly followed by two articles in the Sunday Times: “It’s no wonder we are longing for a De la Rey” by Dan Roodt, the leader of the Pro-Afrikaanse Aksiegroep, and “Alienation much more symbolic than material” by Johann Rossouw, designated executive officer of the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuur. If there is any playing of race cards, these two, who, by all measures, belong to Eloff’s “New Afrikaner Unity”, are doing just that. — Monde Ndandani
Eloff claims to see in the popularity of a teenage song and a few, sporadic protests a new “unity” among Afrikaners and a “call for leadership”.
There is perhaps less unity and conformity among Afrikaners than ever before. Why should we interpret a song about General De la Rey as a desire for leadership? Is the ode to a Boer general who lived a century ago not more appropriately a comforting swansong, a lament, for Afrikaner ideals rather than a symbol of a new-found unity? — Wim Naudé, Helsinki
While I agree with Eloff on some aspects, I disagree on others, particularly where he deals with the reasons why Afrikaners “in the middle” are pulling together — the marginalisation of Afrikaans in academia and public life. My main discomfort lies with the call that leadership is needed with regards to these issues, which are seemingly singled out as being special.
I have not yet seen enough Afrikaners (or for that matter, white people) march on issues that affect the really marginalised people in our country.
It is precisely the focus on only “our group” that caused so much trouble in our beloved country. If we want our government to accept responsibility for issues that are really important, we have to make them South African, not only Afrikaner, issues. — Elize Koch, Emerald Hill
No comparison with apartheid
I note that Pearlie Joubert does not use the term “forced removals” in her article on Hout Bay (“DA rep calls for forced removals”, February 16). Presumably the culprit is the sub-editor who wrote the headline. It certainly is an attention-grabber, but it is shocking journalism, especially for a quality paper like the M&G.
Shall we accuse Tony Ehrenreich of advocating a return to “influx control”, because he has called for a moratorium on the movement of more people into Hout Bay?
Of course not. Neither Marga Haywood nor Ehrenreich are seeking to reintroduce apartheid. They are facing up to a reality: too many people living in appalling conditions, and something has to be done. And it can only be done if, firstly, the authorities stop people from pouring into an area that is overcrowded and, secondly, they move some of those who are already there, and then upgrade the area to provide decent facilities for those remaining.
Such a process is generally referred to as “slum clearance” and, unless we have evidence to the contrary, we must assume that it is not the intention of the DA-led council to do this in an inhumane manner, thus justifying comparison with the apartheid practice of forced removals. — Ron McGregor, Mowbray
Like Helen Zille, I carefully did not use the phrase “forced removals” in my letter to the M&G — they were inserted by a zealous editor. However, isn’t this really what we’re all talking about? Do we honestly believe that the good people of Imizamo Yethu will voluntarily pack up their pitiful belongings and go off to build some other miserable shacks, miles away from their jobs in Hout Bay and Constantia?
Madam Mayor pretends that there are only 34ha in all of Hout Bay and Constantia and this is patent rubbish. Zille is clearly opposed to small housing complexes integrated into existing areas. Disappointingly, hers is turning out to be yet another talk-shop/do-nothing administration. — Bianca Mittag, Constantia
Please Aircon my Coffin (dedicated to Robery Kirby)
Please aircon my coffin
I’m sure it’s dank inside
Do I need humidity
Even though I’ve died?
Please include my radio
A book of poetry too
My black diamond mink coat
To prevent me turning blue.
A couple of reams of paper
Ten kilograms of clay
I couldn’t bear the boredom
If I cannot write or play.
I won’t need an airline ticket
When I’m off to sunny Spain
I’ll simply soar on angels’ wings
More convenient than by train.
And when you come and visit
Are you going to bring a stone?
I’d rather have a flower
If you can’t come, then just phone.
I’ll take calls whether day or night
Simply say my name out loud
I may be visiting Pere Lachaise
Or sitting on a cloud.
But if you say my name out loud
I know that I will hear
I know I won’t be lonely
I know I’ll know no fear
I know I’ll have celestial bliss
I know it will be great
You wonder how I know all this
It’s God, it’s Karma, it’s Fate.
— Hannah Lurie
Church not to blame for delay
‘T he unfinished business of land reform” (February 23) refers to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa as having caused the delay in property acquisition for land restitution by the state. This needs to be rectified.
Shortly after the meeting with the regional land claims commissioner in November 2005, the church was again called for a meeting to discuss possible utilisation of the farm and rights to the farm by the Pniel Communal Property Association (Pniel CPA), the legal entity of the claimants, and a possible private investor.
It was not the church, as reported, which attempted to conclude any joint venture agreement, but the representatives of the Pniel CPA, who requested a pre-restitution approval and negotiated with the commissioner so that the church would transfer certain rights to the property to the claimants. The church was only invited to the meeting and asked whether it would agree to such early ceding and transfer of rights to speed up the handing over of the property.
The church agreed to cede certain rights to the farm to the claimants, but not to any other person or joint venture. Most importantly, the agreement stipulated that any transfer of rights would still require the commissioner’s approval.
The Pniel CPA, on its own accord, had gone ahead in dealing with the land claims commissioner in trying to conclude a joint venture agreement with a private investor. It is therefore not correct to state that delays in the purchase of the land were caused because of attempts by the church to conclude a joint venture agreement.
The delays had been caused by the state when in March 2006 another meeting was held, at which the church was informed that due to the state’s dissatisfaction about the Pniel CPA’s joint venture arrangements with a private investor, the land restitution would have to be postponed. — RG Bausch, general manager, ELCSA Property Management Co
Disappointed
I felt disappointed by the obituary to my father, Robert Kirby (February 16). It speaks of matters and people that were around my father, but did not necessarily define him.
The M&G Online obituary was slightly more informative, reminding us of his unique talent for questioning complicated issues. A mere mention of some of his inventions, such as the bonsai buntu; the censorship sketches with Maureen England; John’s balls or the heads of state instantly bring back memories of his hilarious assaults on the media or the government of the day.
There is also no mention of his three children (and seven grandÂchildren) with my mother.
The obituary doesn’t describe the gap that my father has left behind. — Ruth Kirby, Surrey, UK
Honoured
In my previous job, being lost for words was frowned upon. But one week after reading the full-page tribute to me placed in the M&G, I am still not quite able to express the many feelings which this has stirred up. Anyway, let me try.
I feel deeply honoured, and I’m left with further confirmation that AM Live really was a conversation, a debate, and not a monologue. Thanks for your contribution to those “many hours of riveting radio” — I could always feel your presence. I’m also delighted that the ad was placed in the M&G, the paper that gave me my start in journalism 20 years ago. And finally, I’m gratified that your tribute reflects a wider concern for the role of the public broadcaster in our democracy. On that topic at least, let us never be lost for words. — John Perlman
Real reporting
In a time when journalism is awash with simplistic responses to the complex issue of crime, Pearlie Joubert’s “I eat with robbed money” (February 9) is an example of creative and independent thinking.
Journalists all too seldom step out of their offices to speak to people on the ground. But the effort pays off. While the former approach to crime stories results in the endless regurgitation of numbers and dial-a-quotes, the latter approach confronts us with a more difficult picture to piece together, and murkier moral issues to find our way through. It forces us to think differently about one of the most salient challenges facing the country.
May other journalists rise to the challenge to follow her example. — Herman Wasserman, Stellenbosch
In brief
I was saddened to hear of Robert Kirby’s passing. I was fortunate to work with him on two editions of Not the Mail & Guardian. I found him to be a kind mentor, honest in his criticism and generous with his praise. It was a privilege to work with him, but also great fun. Losing him is rather like waking up to find that Table Mountain has disappeared. — Trish Murphy, Johannesburg
T hank you for the article on John Perlman (March 2). I enjoyed listening to his shows on SAfm and will miss him dearly. — Eden Dlamini, Polokwane
About a year ago we were informed that a new solar panel had been developed at the University of Johannesburg, that a factory in Germany was being set up to manufacture these panels, and that they would become available at the end of 2006. Since then, nothing has been heard about these marvels that were going to solve our energy crisis. Could anybody explain what is happening? — Mari Wessels, Cape Town
The Diocese of Zululand has embarked on a project to restore St Augustine’s Church, Nquthu, as the centrepiece of a revitalised mission, incorporating a school of excellence and a skills centre. We would like to compile a register of past pupils of St Augustine’s Mission School. We appeal to all past pupils to contact: The Diocesan Secretary, Diocesan Office, PO Box 147, Eshowe, 3815, or email: [email protected]. — A-L Gaisford