I WOULD like to respond to Sandile Memela's article on the myth of black poverty.

I WOULD like to respond to Sandile Memela's article on the myth of black poverty.

My view is that many factors contribute to poverty. We cannot deny that black communities have some drunk, demoralised and de-motivated teachers and that these problems affect all black people.

The majority of black tertiary students are on their own when compared with white and Asian students because of factors such as family background. So black students are not stupid or lazy.

White students get their support from their parents, while black students are only supported by God.

We know that a few students who live in squatter camps manage to get some distinctions. But if white people lived where black people live, and vice versa, would the results remain the same?

Black people are not misleading themselves. The facts speak for themselves. The solution is for blacks to be on the same level as whites. Then we can talk about it.

Eric Miya, Soweto