In our readers’ words: Rugby triumph, air show warnings, violence in SA, G20 highlights

Letters to the editor

Boks powerful scrum stuns Ireland

The Springboks’ clash with Ireland this past weekend will be remembered as one of the most physically dominant performances we have seen from a Test side in years.

From the opening whistle, Rassie Erasmus’s men imposed themselves, particularly at scrum time, where the Bok front row applied relentless pressure. Scrum after scrum, Ireland were forced backwards, eventually drawing multiple yellow cards as referee Matthew Carley struggled to keep control of a contest that had tilted dramatically in South Africa’s favour.

South Africa’s superiority was not limited to the set piece. They controlled the lineouts, dominated the rucks, won the aerial exchanges and dictated general play. Even as both teams shed blood in the contest, the Aviva Stadium crowd continued to back their increasingly depleted home side.

At one point Ireland were reduced to 12 men, and just before halftime Erasmus made a shrewd tactical change, unleashing the famed “Bomb Squad.” Moments later, a massive Springbok scrum earned a penalty try, sending South Africa into the break 19-7 ahead.

Given their first-half dominance, many expected the Boks to pull away comfortably. Yet Andy Farrell’s players showed remarkable resolve, defending with courage despite finishing the match with five cards. They continued to challenge South Africa late in the game, but the Boks again chose to assert themselves through the scrum, repeatedly driving Ireland backwards and underlining the physical gulf between the sides.

The final score of 24-13 flatters Ireland and does not reflect how comprehensively South Africa controlled the contest. Rarely has a top-tier nation been so completely overpowered.

This match will have lasting psychological implications across world rugby and will be spoken about for many years to come. | L Oosthuizen Durban

Aviation’s triumphs and its threats

The Dubai 2025 Air Show displayed both the marvels of aviation and a frightening array of modern weaponry.

The airplane has transformed human movement and given us the power to observe the Earth from above. Since 1908n man have traversed the skies and sent machines into space

.Powered flight has fuelled globalisation and made space travel possible. More than 550 people have ventured into the cosmos.

Supersonic commercial travel is expected by 2030. By turning sonic booms into thumps, engineers hope to make faster-than-sound flights viable. Low-boom supersonic planes will dominate high-speed travel over the North Atlantic, using 100% sustainable aviation fuel to cut stratospheric pollution.

Satellites, another product of aviation technology, quietly shape daily life. They enhance safety, enable modern conveniences, and support television, phones, navigation, business, and finance. Before the space age, astronomers relied on ground-based telescopes, limited to what could penetrate Earth’s atmosphere.

Today, space telescopes such as the James Webb provide unprecedented insight into the universe.

Yet, these advances are increasingly exploited for military and political dominance. The race for supremacy in space, the upper atmosphere, and military aircraft technology threatens humanity. Unless reason prevails, our brilliant strides in aviation could become our tombstones. | Farouk Araie Benoni

SA needs an honest debate on violence

Sir,

It is dangerous and misleading to portray gender-based violence (GBV) as simply “men against women”.

GBV is a component of South Africa’s larger crisis of violence, unemployment, inequality, and crime – the highest in the world, even surpassing war zones – rather than an independent “national disaster”. It is vulgar and provocative to elevate GBV above the daily violence and deaths experienced by Black men.

Black men have paid the highest price since 1652: they have had to defend their land in the many Frontier Wars, have suffered expropriation, and borne the weight of apartheid. However, propaganda shames them into silence and tells them to “step back”, as if “their GBV” is the reason behind inequality, poverty, corruption, and unemployment. Even women like them are encouraged to view Black men as enemies by this narrative, which reduces them to nothing.

The disturbing truth is that women often commit acts of violence against children, including abuse and abortion. However, this is disregarded as GBV campaigns take centre stage.

Black men will be forced to boycott GBV awareness campaigns – turning off radios, rejecting newspaper articles, and withdrawing from the 16 Days of Activism – until our own situation is acknowledged if this falsehood continues. Selective justice is not possible.

There is a national crisis of violence in South Africa, but it’s not just men against women. To pretend otherwise is to deepen division and deny the dignity of Black men who paid the highest price for freedom. | Khotso Moleko Bloemfontein

South Africa delivers historic G20 Summit

They came, they saw, they spoke and they listened.

Then they dined and declared the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, a resounding success.

Yes, they all were there except for spoil-sport Donald Trump, who felt South Africa did not deserve to be graced with his portly, commanding presence. It would be below his dignity to attend this global gathering hosted by a minnow of a nation.

Yet he is friends with Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyhau who has butchered over 72 000 Palestinians. Morally corrupt man!

However, Trump’s absence did not spoil the glittering, global event. Rather it showed the world could do without a demented, egoistic bigot like Trump.

The summit focused on the economic growth, inequality and poverty facing the poorer nations of the world. Ramaphosa championed the cause of the third-world countries. For the first time the G20 Summit was held on African soil.

As UN ­Secretary-General António Guterres said, it was “time to respect Africa”. Cyril Ramaphosa beamed from ear to ear when he closed the summit on Sunday. Despite all the challenges facing the nation South Africa had managed to pull off another successful global event. It was a huge feather in the cap for the G20 host nation and its president.

If only the same could be done for the people of the country. | Thyagaraj Markandan Kloof

DAILY NEWS