Dirty dealer: Schabir Shaik and Jacob Zuma’s conduct is not to be taken lightly

Matthew Lester’s trivialisation and thus condoning of Jacob Zuma receiving financial support from Schabir Shaik is alarming coming from a Rhodes University professor of taxation studies (Tax Talk, January 13).

Lester thinks that R4-million assistance is small money. Is corruption about the amount or is it a criminal act? What is he teaching his students at Rhodes when he so glibly passes off corruption?

Has Lester become conditioned by the ANC’s acceptance of endemic corruption as acceptable as long as it is not too large? Are these the new tax principles being taught to Rhodes students in keeping with the ethics in the new SA?

Maybe he is angling for a government job where he would earn more than his professorial pittance. Perhaps the ANC will employ him as a tax adviser to MPs and senior government officials.

Lester’s stance means that he also condones Jackie Selebi’s actions. He should register for Ethics 101 to correct his distorted values.

— RL Legg

With acknowledgements to RL Legg  and The Times.