15 MAY 2004, Page 36

Saving South Africa

From Ian Bernadt Sir: Andrew Kenny (Majority misrule', 17 April) paints a bleak outlook for South Africa. Thankfully the ANC treasurer Trevor Manuel's responsible fiscal and monetary economic policies, of which even Maggie Thatcher would approve, counterbalance the disturbing comments by the lugubrious, steatopygous foreign minister Dlamini-Zuma supporting Mugabe and Castro ('the world's greatest democrat), We recently visited Cape Town to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday. She is a lifelong member of the South African Communist party and an unrepentant Stalinist. As Kenny notes, the weather, scenery and amenities are superb. The restaurants, shopping malls and wineries are excellent. More impressive are the cultural dynamism and energetic support for the arts, especially by younger South Africans. Responsible economic management combined with vigorous political freedom may ultimately preserve South Africa.

Ian Bernadt

Swanbourne, Western Australia