Appeal: A concerned scientist has written to the environment minister
Safeguard this marine jewel
Many scientists working for the department of environmental affairs or for institutions affiliated with it are concerned about the proposed regulations, yet are not allowed to provide public comment. I am one of them. I remain anonymous for fear of losing my job.
Our valuable marine resources and the rich services they provide to society will continue to erode without a substantial network of marine protected areas (MPAs).
I urge you to look at the recent study on 87 MPAs around the world published in Nature – the most prestigious science journal worldwide.
The Tsitsikamma MPA was one of the few “successful” examples included in this study.
Your proposed rezoning, to open four substantial stretches of coastline to fishing by local communities, will compromise the efficacy of this world-leading MPA.
There are real concerns and challenges regarding the benefits to local communities of this MPA, but to carve up the oldest (and one of the most effective) MPAs in Africa into five coastal stretches so that a select group of people can have access to recreational fishing cannot be rationally justified.
I have spoken to the marine science community and they have confirmed that no scientific consultation or planning has gone into the proposed changes to the park. South Africa has an array of institutions with the expertise to solve this in the correct, accountable and transparent way. Please do not exclude the scientists from such important decisions. – Concerned marine scientist
Worn down by the daily struggle to survive
Being unemployed is like sitting on top of an erupting volcano – either you get blown up and fly or you get burned. The battle between trying to stay calm during the storm of unemployment and trying to calm the storm yourself is a nonstop battle.
Here you are: no money, no resources. With the little you scrape together, you apply for numerous posts hoping to get at least one call to make your sacrifices worthwhile, but none come.
You struggle and keep on hoping that it will soon be fine. You look at your children wearing clothes that they have long outgrown and thank God that they are thin so at least they still fit into them.
You look at them laughing and being naughty, but your smile holds no happiness; you feel jealous that they are carefree and wish they will never grow up to suffer like you.
You look at the home your mother provided for you, assisted by the government, still in its sorry unplastered, unpainted and unwired state, even after 12 years.
You try everything in your power to make it better but it’s not enough. It’s never enough. You are constantly told that you are fortunate, that you are intelligent.
But what good has intelligence served you when all you succeeded in doing is to put more burdens on your shoulders. What a failure.
You wish to die and leave this world – but you look at your mother fighting with all she has to provide for you and your children and you feel ashamed for being selfish. So you hold on, for them. – Lerato Modiakgotla
State must drive change in economy
To grow its economy, South Africa rapidly needs to increase its investment in workers. Our export competitiveness has improved significantly with the rand’s fall over the past few years – let us take advantage of it. Let us take the opportunity given to us by the rand’s weakness to invest in manufacturing industries.
For this to happen government must take the lead and invest heavily in manufacturing industries directly and indirectly.
Government must raise corporate taxes to finance its investment in manufacturing industries and enact laws that stipulate the minimum investment expected from the banks in these industries.
The private sector has failed to provide leadership and perhaps should not be expected to lead the economic rise of South Africa because it acts on behalf of private interests.
Government, which acts in the public interest, must take the responsibility to lead and direct private business to act in a manner that will contribute to the objectives of the state.
Mere pleas over the past 21 years have not worked to encourage the private sector to co-operate with government’s stated objectives. And there is no good reason to believe that they will work in the future.
Therefore, laws and regulations must be passed to force private business to act in the national interest. Severe penalties must be paid by those who do not want to co-operate.
The time for begging the private sector to “come to the party” with regard to the country’s objectives must now pass.
Government’s failure to be stricter with private business has been to the detriment of the poor majority in this country but will soon be to its own detriment if it fails to change this policy.
Move government, South Africa is waiting! – Linda Kwinana
Rethink on education needed
South Africa’s education system produces students who are not equipped to deal with the workload, language and demands of tertiary institutions. I write this as a first-year student as I reflect on how far I’ve come.
Apart from producing students who are not able to express themselves and comprehend the work before them, the system produces students who mostly qualify for the humanities and social sciences, which are already saturated.
Every year, tertiary institutions admit students for degrees that have limited work opportunities, yet we desperately need electricians, artisans, plumbers and engineers.
This is a worrying trend. We have to move away from an attitude of self-entitlement to a hardworking mentality and refrain from being too choosy to our own detriment. – Samkelo Latakisa