Students deserve better

One of the greatest tragedies is that so many people imbibed with the spirit of entrepreneurship seem rather to use their talents to exploit their own people than to help develop them to become independent individuals. We are not saying this is the case with the local World Training College, ambitiously named as it is, but students enrolled at this institution claim they do not get what they have paid for. To accommodate more than 80 students in windowless classrooms, with no books as alleged by the students and worse, no lecturers, is simply unacceptable. This country is crying out for trained individuals to help build a future. Where good money is taken from people wanting to be trained in order to lead productive lives and they get little in return, is cause for great concern. Where so-called independent colleges are charging in excess of R10 000 for courses in computer literacy, where there are only 12 computers for the courses and where there are no or unqualified lecturers, there definitely seems to be something amiss and the sooner our education authorities take this matter into review, the better. The institution’s Principal, Mazda Makhaye, says in an interview that she is not aware of any irregularities and that her students are welcome to lodge their complaints with her. We encourage them to do so at once and we shall continue to keep a watchful eye on the situation.

Les van krokodilaanval

Waar mense nog op ’n gereelde basis met die natuur in stryd is, is die lewe meer as net interessant. Dit was onlangs die geval met Lawrence Munro, ’n KZN Ezemvelo wildbewaarder nadat hy deur ’n drie meter lange krokodil in die Wit Mfolozirivier bygedam is. Danksy die hulp en daadwerklike pogings van sy vyf-maande swanger vroutjie Kerrin, het hy die aanval oorleef, maar sit hy nou met die letsels aan sy bene van die aanval wat hy sekerlik nooit sal vergeet nie. Danksy die hulpvaardigheid van sy kollegas wat deur Kerrin geroep is, het Munro die aanval kon oorleef, maar dit kon baie anders gewees het. Hierin is ’n les te leer. Munro is ’n ervare wildbewaarder en mens neem aan dat hy voortdurend bedag sal wees op die gevare in the ongetemde dele van ons streek. Tog het hy ’n slagoffer geword. Dit is sulke voorvalle wat ons daaraan herinner dat ons hier in Zoeloeland baie na aan die natuur leef en terwyl ons hiervoor dankbaar moet wees, moet ons in gedagte hou dat die natuur geen mooi sentimente het nie, maar op sy eie manier aangaan. As ons nie respek het daarvoor nie en ’n roekeloos houding inneem, dinge baie vinnig lelik - of selfs noodlottig - kan uitdraai.

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