Mbeki attitude in bad taste

As I was reading your paper I came across Themba Molefe's Slice of Life column.

As I was reading your paper I came across Themba Molefe's Slice of Life column.

As much as I would like to agree with him that the government is doing something about housing the displaced foreigners, the truth remains that the government didn't consult residents before the temporary shelters were set up.

President Thabo Mbeki says the displaced people should be integrated into local communities. He is not asking people what they think but telling them what will happen.

I find that in bad taste.

Initially the government opened the borders without consulting the masses and what happened in the end? Violence erupted.

Mbeki is still telling people what he wants without consulting them them - another recipe for violence.

What should happen is that a referendum must be called to find out what the people think.

That would be the most viable thing to do as opposed to imposing decisions on the masses.

Charles Ntshangase, Pretoria