THE REACTION to the mini-Budget by Irvin Jim, as leader of one of this country’s most powerful unions, is totally predictable. More state control, nationalisation and interference generally.
This, in my view, would spell economic collapse for this country. It is regulation and red tape which is stifling the economy, especially the labour market where it is almost impossible to fire an incompetent employee. The labour laws here are the biggest boost there can be to unemployment.
Jim’s concern for the poor is commendable. I would suggest he could make a difference by contributing part of his huge salary to some of his union’s poorest members. All the overpaid government ministers could do the same. After all, leadership should come from the top where austerity is concerned.
The plain fact is that the government is spending more than it is taking in with tax. Result, huge debts. South Africa depends to a large extent on foreign direct investment to fill the gap. Jim’s recipe would cause that to dry up completely and put the credit rating at risk.
At the end of May I wrote in concerning the election results here and in India. What a divergence there. India storming ahead with its main share index up 25 percent since the election. The rupee is steady against the dollar, growth of 7 percent under a new business-friendly government led by Nahendra Modi,who is tackling corruption and red tape.
By contrast, the voters in South Africa decided they wanted more of the same. In financial markets, governance is everything – and it shows.
Peter Hill
St Lucia, KZN
Ubuntu not part of government’s ethos
Journalists in general need to be congratulated for their investigative work and in this case Wiseman Khuzwayo for exposing the newly created Department of Small Business Development (Business Report, October 24).
When this new department was created there was huge scepticism in the business arena. The creation smacked of another “coach on the gravy train” and everyone questioned whether Lindiwe Zulu (the minister) had ever run a small business, and whether government officials understood the mechanics of small business where the owners have to be masters of every aspect – finance, marketing, sales, HR, etc.
The jury, of course, is still out on that verdict but I must congratulate the minister for quickly grasping the importance of taking overseas trips on my taxpayer’s money. R1.68 million in total for an entourage to visit a US trade fair.
Yet again this is another example of how clueless this government is on looking after state funds. On the other hand, they are highly skilled in making sure their lives are as comfortable as possible and to hell with the rest of the population.
Ubuntu is clearly not for the people in charge but merely another piece of hot air that is sprouted by the government.
It sickens me.
Tony Ball
Durban
Rooibos is not a new additive in craft beers
The article on “Cape’s rooibos dops pioneer new way to make drinks” (Business Report, October 21), raises some interesting questions. Rooibos, along with many other herbs, has been used in the production of beer for many years.
The most famous are hops. These herbs give specific aromas and character. Hops have bactericidal properties to protect beer from spoilage organisms, apart from giving it its flavour and aroma. None of these herbs has been “protected by patents” before in the production of beers, but a patent is recorded for the use of hop acids to inhibit growth of staphylococcus aureus.
It will be interesting to see how the brewers of beers react to this new patented application of a key ingredient used in brewing some craft beers.
John Cluett
Past Chairman: Institute of Brewing & Distilling, Africa Section