Readers' views via SMS

SORRY, but I don't understand why neighbours of Oscar Pistorius heard shouting, gunshots, then 17 minutes later more gunshots – hellooo they should have called security surely, or did they not want to get involved? Shame on you.

I AM shocked to hear the courts basically turning their focus on Warrant Officer Hilton Botha! Have you forgotten that a life was allegedly taken by Oscar? I am just curious to know why Oscar thought his life was threatened, as alleged, when nobody could be seen or heard? You only shoot when you see a weapon and that person attacks you.

BURGLARS don't lock themselves in bathrooms! Does Oscar do rejection? Did Reeva do confrontation? Four shots fired while on stumps in the dark then switches lights on, realises it's Reeva dying and puts legs on, then beats down door. Cricket bat used before shooting, fan brought in after. Gerrie Nel and Desmond Nair, get this right for all abused women.

YOU say that Oscar Pistorius has the financing and power to get the best legal defence money can buy. Is this a crime? If Fred van der Vyver's parents had not had deep pockets, he would have been railroaded into a life sentence. We should all wait for the court to give judgment.

WHOSE girlfriend locks herself in when going to the toilet at 4am, and why?

REEVA'S funeral: I am surprised to see the pictures in the paper. Why? Was it a political event? The ANC is always sticking their noses where they don't belong.

ROLAND Williams, owning a gun is like owning a vehicle. Both can kill if not used responsibly. I don't see anyone calling for a vehicle ban because of all the deaths on our roads!

ROLAND Williams, have you ever been held up or robbed? Surely not! If you had been, you would've sung another song. With the crime rate as it is, it has become compulsory for us to protect ourselves and carry firearms.

ROLAND Williams, when criminals attack and abuse your family in the privacy of your home I want to see how you are going to protect them.

OH Roland Williams, you write a load of rubbish. Rather cork it.

OSCAR Pistorius: who are we to judge? Stop all these comments and wait patiently for the outcome!

CHRISTIAN Martin, I agree with you, a person is innocent until proven guilty. Thank you for your letter.

JAN H has a point. Why is Pistorius being portrayed as a hero, with him getting support from overseas? Is it heroic to "accidently" kill your girlfriend?

RAT says Mark's Wiggett cartoon depicting Oscar throwing his reputation down the drain "is sick". On the contrary, the cartoon is accurate, it is brilliant!

ALL of you out there making comments for and against Oscar Pistorius, please shut up. Not one of you knows the facts of the case. A court of law and not an inquisitive press speculating on hearsay evidence will decide his guilt. It was the press that convicted Fred van der Vyfer, but two high court judges in two different cases exonerated him. Oscar is innocent unless proven guilty. If he is found guilty he will be severely punished.

SOUTHERN Kings: so Alec, it appears that you are not capable of original thought. Get your head out of the sand and support our team!

THANK God for the thinking M Phillips. You clearly know what you are talking about with the AWS saga! May sanity prevail.

TO Fan, stop seeing what is not there! Cricket is a team sport. I bet Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander have no problem with Graeme Smith's decision. In my view, good decisions at the right time. All great players (as these two are) would tell you personal stats account for very little when the team is winning. Take your racist bumpf elsewhere!

HOW can we consider the two candidates with previous misdemeanours? Rather go to St Albans and source one. What are you thinking, Mr Mayor?

HOW is it possible that of three short-listed candidates for the municipal manager post, two have dubious backgrounds in corruption suspensions and financial irregularities?

A DEPARTMENT of Labour official, Thembinkosi Mkalipi, wants farm labourers to earn R300 a day to get them out of poverty. All they will be out of is a job!

I AGREE there is so much talent in Port Elizabeth and we should not miss out on Idols!

THE court grants a drunk driver his licence back after he kills pedestrians and at the same time they promote the Arrive Alive campaign – makes you think.

ANIMAL Welfare Society, would you please respond to the report in The Herald of February 18. If the report is true, then you have lost yourselves a very loyal supporter and generous contributor.

"RETURN at last to movies for grownups" (February 19): alas someone has decreed that Port Elizabeth movie goers are not yet grown up or cultured enough to see the film, Quartet. Yes as usual it's Joburg, Cape Town and Durban. What an insult! Poor old PE.