Editor:  The Independent on Saturday

Dear Sir,

While the show “Noises Off” is still on - here is a letter addressed to Sutcliffe which you might like to publish.                                    

Dr Michael Sutcliffe

eThekwini Municipality

Dear Sir,

after all the negative publicity that you have been receiving for a long time, (what with exorbitant rates etc), it gives me great pleasure to say something positive about you!

As the manager of all the affairs and the running of the Municipality, I give you all the credit for rejecting the offending banner of the new local stage comedy “Noises Off.”  Indeed the poster is “lewd and provocative” as you have pertinently labelled it!

“Lewd” because the private body of a scantily clad female is being publicly exposed.  What message are they sending to the many families with young children that will be walking or driving past these posters - families that still maintain high standards of moral and ethical values?  The publishing of nakedness is the crime of the adult media industry, which manages to enrich itself with billions, but very sadly at the cost of degrading and making women cheap - not to mention all the other serious consequences!

“Provocative” precisely,  because a half naked beautiful woman is attractive and therefore erotic, provoking the male to normal urges which can lead to addictive lust and in the worst cases even to rape and worse!   

What do you women out there think about this abuse? What opinions do you have of - lets say a porn queen? Would you rather not have her as a family friend?  She might soon be in real competition for your husbands affections with a license to operate in your neighborhood - if Michael gives in to the pressure for the legalization of this sleazy industry!

Well done Dr Sutcliffe for your stand! Take up the challenge from the producer of the above play and remove all the other offending posters on bins etc. - and at least keep the streets of Durban morally clean!