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Quotes of the week
Compiled by Duncan Guy
JOHANNESBURG – A selection of quotes of southern African interest appearing in the media in the past week. “I can tell you that the field of economic and fiscal advice is characterised by no such intelligible order... So I have to conclude that economics remains a rather primitive intellectual discipline, and I hope, ministers, that you enjoy the benefits of better-structured ideas and advice in the field of education.”
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel addressing the Commonwealth Conference of Education Ministers in Cape Town, quoted in Business Day. ---
“In our struggle for human rights, we were assisted by our brothers and sisters on the continent, so that creates a moral basis and a moral obligation for us to assist people in similar situations.”
Chief executive of the South African Human Rights Commission, advocate Tseliso Thipanyane, speaking at a seminar in Johannesburg to commemorate the Global Day for Darfur and International Human Rights Day.
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“As a comrade of our struggle, Comrade Mengistu and his government played a key and commendable role during our struggle for independence and no one can dispute that.”
Zimbabwe government spokesman William Nhara on former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, now a Harare resident, who was convicted for genocide in absentia.
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“The few remaining resources that the SAAF has will either have to be used for transporting VIPs or maintaining combat readiness. It cannot do both.”
Democratic Alliance MPL Roy Jankielsohn on the SA Air Force hiring an aircraft for R4.55 million to take Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to the United Kingdom.
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“The potential danger in the relationship between Africa and China is that it is possible to build ... an unequal relationship, the kind that has developed between African countries as colonies -- including this one - and the colonial powers.”
President Thabo Mbeki warning that Africa must guard against merely becoming a supplier of raw materials in exchange for manufactured goods.
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“The network is still out there, waiting for them. If they are released on bail, there can be no doubt that they will return to the network -- they have been doing it for years.”
Wynberg magistrate Jackie Redelinghuys on why he refused bail to alleged druglord Nazier Kapdi and four others on charged involving trafficking in the drug “tik”.
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“Yes, the problem of sexual workers and gays is there ... why stigmatise this group as our strategy is multi-pronged and we want to cover all risk groups?”
Southern African Development Community official Stephen Sianga strategising HIV-Aids prevention at a meeting in Malawi.
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“There is evidence that in regions where the majority of men are circumcised, HIV infection is lower than in regions where circumcision is not practiced.”
Roy Hauya, director of policy and programmes at Malawi’s National Aids Commission.
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“Even though there is an increase in condom use and there are signs of behaviour change the model indicates this is just not enough to slow down the epidemic.”
Senior Medical Research Council researcher Debbie Bradshaw on the current status of HIV-Aids in South Africa.
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“The issuance of identity cards has therefore been suspended.”
A government report in cash-strapped Zimbabwe, which has virtually stopped issuing passports and identity cards after running out of funds to import ink and special paper.
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“I have never met a Quaker who thought that sitting and meditating would solve the world’s problems.”
A Quaker commenting on Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge’s vision of her job. The deputy minister is herself a Quaker.
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“Not only has parental leadership failed, the overall societal leadership is far from being inspiring to children.”
The report by the African Union’s Peer Review panel found that children in the country were facing an uphill struggle as families and schools disintegrate, leaving them without social support structures.
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“It’s like being in jail, there is no water and you can’t get food easily. You have to sleep on rocks, its really hot.”
“Samuel”, describing life as a “Zama Zama”, or pirate miner, living for months in the bowels of abandoned pits, plundering booty worth millions of dollars.
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“This is probably the biggest organised crime case we've (the Directorate of Special Operations) dealt with.”
Scorpions prosecutor Gerrie Nel during Brett Kebble murder accused Glenn Agliotti’s bail application in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
– Sapa.
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