South Africa

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 12

South Africa

?Sir.4i* rwonae.tp X Wiikinson (October 5), the sources for my information abouttheuse of cerebral palsy children In Guguletu, Cape Province, told me of a specific incident when tear-gas had been used right outside the school gate while the children, in wheel-chairs and prams, and on cratches, were in, the yard. Uh- ’ like their able-bodied peers, these children were unable to run, so endured the full effects Of the gas. The second , incident, ? the tear-gassing of commuter trains, was reported in “FroritUde,” July 1987 . (published Braamfontein, R.S.A.): “At New Canada on several? occasions • soldleri threw tear-gas canisters -AZ . .

into moving trains, usually just as the trains pulled off.” As for L. R. Wilkinson’s references (October 6) to “democratic” South Africa, we must be using different dictionaries. Mine (Concise Oxford) defines democracy as “government by the people” and"the- politically unprivileged class.” — Yours, etc., PATRICIA SMART. October 6,1987. Sir,—Although < , David ? Dumergue (October .6) provides no source for his statistics about platinum, his letter, perhaps unwittingly, indicates that given ,?■ the opportunity that such wealth could provide to put the seal of sincerity on South African Goy- , ernment and business persons’ stated intentions for moves towards a sharing-caring society, the white administrators have Simply attempted a perpetual confidence trick. The truth about southern Africa is that pre-Euro-pean inhabitants had their arts, skills, trades to meet their immediate needs. Their simplicity was mistaken for mental incapa- .. city ripe for duplicity. J Sowetap”. (South Africa) hewS-.,7 •'to buy ati -outletsfiOf . of : Jhat is mostly consumed .-bjM; blacks: The .aim IT to end white 1 domination in brewing and pales. > S Jfespife to* .business aciwteh ; hf sic# blacks, they have nd pariia>menW\ voice.—Yours, etd; ; •- ' -viwgfit:'." 4 ■.. •... October 7, 1987. k .