Letter of the week
Dilemma of facing the booze police
The article ‘Minors not allowed in liquor outlets’ on page 9 in the Monday edition on 23 January 2012 refers. This article outlines section 45 of the Liquor Act, Act 27/1989. One particular paragraph made me raise an eyebrow. It is stated that adults who take minors into liquor stores may face prosecution, as well as the liquor outlet owners if they allow a minor onto the premises. What am I now supposed to do with my toddler if I am on a shopping trip with my child and need to buy liquor from a liquor outlet? Must I leave her unattended at the door or in a sweltering hot car? Or should I be a law-breaker by taking her into the liquor store with me where she will be safe with me? The second question I have is what to do in grocery stores selling wine? Must I now leave her unattended at the entrance of the wine aisle? Seriously, this is not going to stop alcohol abuse among minors in any way. This type of legislation was not properly thought through. In the meantime I guess I will have to do without the wine in my cooking or dare go wine shopping with my toddler and risk being locked up for being a very irresponsible parent.
RESPONSIBLE MOTHER
Emergency vehicles ‘confuses’ driver
I have serious sympathy for all ambulance drivers, and admire their courage and perseverance. I would like to comment on the article in the Observer on 23 January. I personally have seen how ambulances approach a red robot with no rush, no sirens or lights, put their sirens and lights on just before the robot to cross and to continue normally with no rush on the other side, as if nothing happened. Also where ambulances were used to pick up passengers, again with no rush, lights or sirens, after which they put on their sirens and lights and speed off, just to drop the person a few block down the road just to continue further as if nothing happened. Now which one must I as the road user respect. Over the years people respected ambulances, but with the abuse of such authority, how can one expect that kind of respect to prevail? I still make way, still choose to respect, but must say that I am seriously confused! Which is a ambulance and which is a taxi?
ERIKA
Empangeni
Deadly road ‘games’ menace
Hats off to all paramedics and emergency workers for whom it’s not a job but a calling to do what they do. That being said, I would like to mention to Joseph (Kruger) that inasmuch as they are sick and tired of the menacing drivers, so are we, the law-abiding drivers. On a few occasions I have been forced off the road by not only taxis and other impatient drivers, but by the very same emergency vehicles rushing to save lives. I agree that seconds matter when it comes to what you do. What I do not agree with is when I’m asked to find a spot to ‘step aside’ when there is nowhere for me to go. Your responsibility then also lies with us, the few that still respect each other on the roads. No harm is supposed to come to us when trying to assist by making that space for you.
My heart goes out to everybody who has lost somebody and I mean no disrespect to anybody when I say this, but causing more accidents trying to save others is not the way.
I would fall apart if anything happened to any friends and family of mine, but I would struggle even more knowing another life was sacrificed while trying to save the one I love.
Once again though I thank these special people every day, but ask that you respect us too.
ADELE FOUCHE
Baby abandonment is murder
I couldn't agree more with the letter from Liz Wood (20 January ZO). That these people are just leaving babies to die is horrific. We are in serious need of a place to have these babies left safely. And if there are such places, they must be more visible to the public. These women leaving their babies to die, however, should be dealt with so that an example is set to make sure this comes to an end. It is, after all, murder.
TAMMY HARMSE
Education needs collective wisdom
The Issues at Stake article by Carl de Villiers in the ZO of 20 January, Educational Mediocrity needs reality check’, refers. First, let me congratulate you for publicly articulating views one normally shares with some educators, parents and others that remain deeply concerned about the state of education in South Africa. Some of our politicians have expressed similar concerns in the past. Issues you raised in the article certainly need some collective wisdom from all: - parents, learners, educators, community leaders, education authorities and others whose major function it is to plan for a South African education system geared to make the country competitive to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.
Numerous report findings on education, directly or indirectly, confirm the views you expressed.
We now all need to come up with lasting solutions.
Complaints about poor Grade 12 examination results or declining educational standards are no longer recycled messages one would like to hear.
We should all accept responsibility for the unsatisfactory state of our education system. No single sector of society can succeed in tackling this complex challenge alone.
Education policies need to be regularly monitored and evaluated by experienced and knowledgeable people, selected on merit from all segments of society.
Educational institutions should be assisted to do their job without undue interference from any possible narrow personal interests. Quality education is crucial to the country’s future. So we should start with recruitment and promotion of service personnel only on merit, and not on any other consideration. Selection panels for promotions at senior levels of management within the education sector should include experienced and knowledgeable people from also outside the education sector.
CEO: Uthungulu Community Foundation
Jong swemmers soek hulp
Ons is agt spanmaats wat gekies is om ons provinsie te verteenwoordig in die jaarlikse Gala in Rustenburg op 28 Januarie. Ons het ’n baie groot versoek en wil graag al die Zoeloelanders vra vir hulp. Dit is vir ons ’n eer om ons provinsie te verteenwoordig, maar ons het ’n borg nodig wat ons kan help met ’n bussie sodat ons daarheen kan gaan. Die bussie moet ten minste 15 passasiers kan neem. Net soos enige ander swemmers is ons swemmers met ’n droom, maar om daardie droom uit te leef het ons hulp nodig van ons gemeenskap. Indien daar enige iemand is wat ons kan help met ’n bussie of selfs dalk twee Combis waarin ons sal pas, sal dit puik wees! Kontak my moeder Charmain op haar selfoon 083 6521948 vir enige navrae. My naam is Marius en ek is 14 jaar oud.
MARIUS
What maintenance court?
I have a 16 year-old daughter currently in Grade 11, but for how long I don’t know. Her father and I have been going to maintenance court for over five years now. The court has issued an order for him to pay R2 500 per month plus a little something towards arrears. To date he is approximately R20 000 in arrears in school fees. He does not pay the stipulated amount or the little bit extra, yet is self employed in Durban. I have been back and forth to the court, they then issued a warrant of arrest, and when he showed up late again at court, he simply told the maintenance officer ‘if you lock me up how must I work to get money to pay?’ - the court official sits and laughs at this!
Okay, she says, we will let you try to pay again.
This is the same story over and over, even if I inform the court he has not paid, they give me a date to return to court in approximately three months.
The school is threatening me that if it is not paid in full, she may not return until the account is up to date.
I am providing the clothes she wears, toiletries, sports uniforms, text books, school uniform and so on.
All he has to do is pay school fees.
Where are the so-called rights of a child?
FED UP 2
Heartless act deplored
I am sickened by the recent story headlined ‘No room for the elderly’ featured on page 4 of 20 January’s Zululand Observer. I think any son or children who issues a protection order against their own vulnerable mother for personal gain, clearly has neither morals nor respect. No matter what, family is family and we need to stick by them, especially through these hard and troublesome times.
JUSTIN
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