Contacts, not qualifications get plum job
ON Tuesday, I read a report that the SABC board had been asked by the minister to suspend its current search for a chief operating officer and cast its net wider. The way I read the board actions is that it had just one person in mind for the second most powerful position in the organisation.
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Go back to tertiary education basics
IN the aftermath of the University of Johannesburg’s “stampede” Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande proposed some options which he might explore to avoid similar incidents in future, inter alia:
Nothing done about corruption
WHAT a disgrace (“City’s ‘misspent’ millions”, January 31). We are so sick of hearing about how our city fathers plunder the finances of our municipality. Nothing is ever done about it.
Prompt action to fix problem
MONDAY afternoon’s wind brought down an electrical overhead supply cable onto my steel palisade fence. I phoned (041) 374-4434 to report this, which took a while to get through understandably.
Give your opinion at secrecy bill hearing
THE “secrecy bill” public hearings have kick-started this week on a country-wide tour. These hearings are aimed at affording the public an opportunity to voice their opinions on some of the pertinent issues contained in this bill which adversely affect media freedom and the constitutional rights of whistle-blowers.
Kids must know dangers of modern technology
I AM shocked, devastated and saddened by the report on explicit sexual images of school kids on cellphones for all to see (“Matrics in porn scandal”, January 27). I feel sorry for the families of these kids.
Rather solve library issue
I COULD not help but notice mayor Zanoxolo Wayile visited shopping malls in the metro last week to collect shoes and uniforms for school children. He should rather spend his valuable time with the unions to solve the three-year-long dispute which resulted in the closure of libraries on Saturdays.
We need power, so drop scare tactics
SO some of the residents in the St Francis/Cape St Francis area are about to be irradiated if Eskom builds a nuclear power station at Thyspunt! According to the article, “Thyspunt cancer fears” (January 25), it has been found in France that in the period 2002 to 2007 of the 11 million children living in France a total of 2753 cases of childhood leukaemia (15 years and younger) were diagnosed (that is, 0.0005%).
Thousands of engineers in SA
WITH reference to the article, “R6m boost for engineers’ training” (January 11), the statement that there are “less than 1000 engineers in the country” had me gob-smacked!
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TOO many children at young ages are exposed to explicit sexual material which is easily accessible if they have cellphones. It is disturbing and alarming.
Poor service during outage
ON Monday we experienced an electricity outage in Mill Park. In calling to report the outage, there was no answer to the number given. In calling the call centre, all operators were busy.
Prompt help at tax office
I HAD to go to SARS in Chapel Street to obtain a tax return form for my daughter, who now resides in Australia, as I had not had a reply to my letter to SARS dated December 14.
Doing excellent job with projects to enhance the city
PIERRE Voges is to be commended on his healthily optimistic take on the future of our metro, as aired in his comprehensive report in The Herald (“Transforming the armpit of SA into a city of pride”, January 25). His enthusiasm is infectious, as he describes the projects which the Mandela Bay Development Agency has, to date, driven in the city.
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IF only Heyneke Meyer had been appointed four years ago, the Boks would still be champs, not the chumps they became under Peter de Villiers. Congrats Heyneke.
Visitors damage beach environment, wildlife
EVERY year in the run-up to the Christmas/New Year holidays, I am reminded by the local residents as to the benefits the influx of holiday people brings to the Ndlambe area.
Fix road on cycle route
THE Herald Cycle Tour is this Sunday and the Ironman event is on the doorstep.
Small businesses need support
THERE are companies in our society that strive to improve and add value to the lives of poor and desolate people in our country, rather than pass the buck and point fingers at others.
Sewerage blockages remain uncleared
I LIVE in Soweto on Sea where sewerage blockage is a daily problem. We have reported this numerous times, but nothing is done.
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TRANSNET Property in Port Elizabeth is racist. There are no coloured or Indian managers, only black and white. Junior staff and temps are all black. Brian Molefe should answer that too.
Wait until after school
SHOULDN’T kids become men once they have finished school (“Row as initiates told to wear school attire”, January 24)?
Give work to local business
I WANT to thank Herald readers for their support during my medical disability last year.
Dirty state of city buildings a disgrace
ON Monday January 16, the cruise liner, Silver Wind, docked in the Port Elizabeth harbour and I was asked to do a city tour in my vehicle for six French Canadians. After having an operation to my foot I have been unable to do any driving for a while, so I was rather shocked to see what the city looks like now.
Good Samaritan made our day too
REGARDING the good Samaritan (“Good Samaritans made our Friday”, January 30), this man must be doing the rounds in Port Elizabeth. Two Saturdays ago my friend and I had our breakfast paid for by a kind man at Angelo’s in Walmer. This act of random kindness made our day.
Bam an inspiring and exemplary teacher
MUCH has been written about Fikile Bam, who, for the past 15 years was judge president of the Land Claims Court (“E Cape icon Bam dies at 74”, January 19).
Forecast not always accurate
RECENT reports regarding the general unhappiness among the public to do with the ridiculous fines for anyone besides the official South African Weather Bureau giving out local weather warnings, etc under the proposed SA Weather Service Amendment Act refer.
Don’t want advert clutter
TODAY I walk around with a considerable bruise on my wrist as I wrestled to extricate what is meant to be my mail from my metal letterbox.
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Different law for the ‘high ups’
THE Herald front page item “Premier bust on speed charge” (January 26) refers. Is there one law for “high ups” and another for the ordinary person?
Polluted Swartkops a health hazard
IT is with great sadness and disappointment that I must read that the popular Redhouse River Mile, Africa’s oldest open water swimming event, has once again been moved to the Sundays River on February 19 due to the poor water quality of the Swartkops River (“Sundays River hosts Spar Redhouse River Mile”, January 17).
Good Samaritans made our Friday
TWO pensioners go off to Greenacres in search of a reasonably priced pair of sandals. We only found one pair but the price was too high for us.
Set example, Ms Kiviet
MOST of our appointed political heads of departments are an embarrassment and a public disgrace. They dismally fail to lead from the front.
Article source: http://www.peherald.com/news/article/4647
