When I read Lael Bethlehem’s response to Peter Bruce I agreed with the heading but was stunned at the content (“Tariffs alone can never secure the long term health of an industry (https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2021-02-18-tariffs-alone-can-never-secure-the-long-term-health-of-an-industry/),” February 18). It is a long, vicious and at times very personal attack on Bruce's highly critical column on trade, industry and competition minister Ebrahim Patel, and certain aspects of our industrial policies (“Steel yourself for Ebrahim Patel’s price controls, a loser’s game (https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/columnists/2021-02-10-peter-bruce-steel-yourself-for-ebrahim-patels-price-controls-a-losers-game/),” February 10).

Kudos to BD for publishing this diatribe. Only when I reached Bethlehem’s credentials did I realise that there is a huge ideological divide present, and Bruce’s philosophies are anathema to the lady...

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