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A right call about the youth

I WAS deeply touched by Ido Lekota's analysis that "crass materialism has made youngsters like Jub Jub insensitive, selfish and coarse".

I WAS deeply touched by Ido Lekota's analysis that "crass materialism has made youngsters like Jub Jub insensitive, selfish and coarse".

His call to the youth to "now reclaim the streets" is more than welcome and I appeal to organised youth formations, especially the ANCYL, to heed the call to stop this vicious activity.

Dicing - and the spinning of vehicles - has become a common form of entertainment and while I also blame this on the lack of recreational facilities, I am of the opinion that it should only be done at specifically demarcated areas, as highlighted by Motorsport South Africa.

When I first heard the media reports about the murders - as the prosecution has correctly interpreted it - of these innocent school pupils last week, my first response was: if only it was during our time in the 1980s, we could have taught them a comradely lesson - and I know those who were activists then will know what I mean.

I also agree with Lekota's assertion that the consequences of such behavioural patterns is to ultimately wipe out our sense of ubuntu (just look at the smile of Mama Maahoranye).

To me that smile is the opposite of a picture of a parent who is attending a court case of her own child who has just been responsible for snuffing out the lives of schoolchildren. There was no pain in solidarity with the parents of the deceased, no pain of shame, no pain of regret that one's child has been responsible for this cruel state of affairs. What type of mother is she?

The government has the authority to act immediately against this type of offenders - and not wait for the lengthy criminal justice system to take its course - by cancelling the licences of the two suspected murderers.

Derrick Lentsoane, Polokwane

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