17 May 2016
The
Letters are the opinion of readers and not necessarily that of tame TIMES or its staff. Send your letters to candace.king@tametimes.co.za. The editor reserves the right to edit or omit letters.
Pinboard
2016 REUVEN COMMITTEE
Letter by Caroline Ngoasheng, Reuven Senior Complex Social Group Chairperson In response to a letter to the editor, written by Mr L.D. van der Merwe, regarding the operations of the Reuven Senior Complex Committee, I wish to draw Mr van der Merwe’s attention to the following: Just a few months after Mr van der Merwe moved into Reuven, he approached us and asked to join the committee. We explained to him that the committee is no longer functioning because we are left with four members which is not enough to form a quorum. This is due to deaths and illnesses of members and some leaving on their own accord. All our efforts to find new members to resuscitate the committee were in vain. As a social club we serve as a channel through which the various organisations, societies, schools, churches, religious, cultural and social bodies wish to reach out to the elderly at Reuven. Our group, with the help of a few volunteers, prepare the communal hall, side-hall, and other facilities, such as the kitchen, for functions. We also let residents know about activities via the distribution of pamphlets, the notice board, by advertising in the media or by word of mouth. We assist with the cooking and preparation of food or niceties as well as distribute food and grocery parcels. The facilities need to be prepared and to be cleaned before and after the activities, which is an enormous task for old people. None of us get paid, we all do it
voluntarily, and no one has ever been asked to be paid for work done at the complex. Members of our group can be alerted at any time of the day or night to assist the sick and those who are dying. Members also help with funeral arrangements and memorial services in cases where there are no families. If need be, we make a collection for those that cannot afford such services. Acknowledgment, words of encouragement and appreciation from the residents are few, but criticism and derogatory remarks are too many to name. Despite the negativity we are blasted with, we will continue because we have pledged to serve our fellowmen with love and compassion. If Mr van der Merwe has any proof of the social group’s wrong doings, we advise him to go to the police to lay charges of theft, misconduct or wrongdoing. We are surprised that he never approached or challenged us with any of his unfounded accusations, but instead chose to covertly go direct to the media to “supposedly” expose us. We regrettably find Mr van der Merwe’s immature reaction not only childish but despicable.
EDITOR’S RESPONSE:
Dear Caroline, I would advise that the committee addresses this matter directly with Mr van der Merwe.
GREEN HUGS
Letter by Jessica Janse Van Rensburg When we were knee high we were told that sweets, chocolates, fizzy drinks and all things sugary is bad for us but did we take our parents serious? Well now is a good time. According to research, the impact of Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSB) on the overall health of the South African population is believed to be worsening, contributing to rapidly increasing levels of diabetes, and with obesity levels growing among women to 39% and 11% among men. Director of Priority Cost Effective Lessons for System Strengthening (PRICELESS SA), Professor Karen Hofman highlighted that drinking one to two SSBs a day increases an adult’s likelihood of being overweight by 27% and by 55% in children. It also increases the risk of developing type II diabetes. She added that in the case of a 500ml SSB, there are probably 12 to 14 teaspoons of sugar while in a 2-litre SSB there are 50 teaspoons of sugar. With South Africa being among the 10 global consumers of sugary drinks, we possibly face a dire situation of growing deaths and disabilities in the next few years, including an overwhelmed health system with the poor set to be the most affected. The proposed SSB tax, due for implementation in 2017, could potentially be one of the effective measures to address this challenge. According to PRICELESS SA, a 20% tax on SSBs could reduce the number of obese people by almost a quarter of a million over the next three to five years. And now all this sweet talk has put Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar on Me in my head.
Dear Candace, I was looking through all of the newspaper articles that you wrote about me last year and I really can’t thank you enough for all of your support. The team at tame TIMES is of an impeccable standard and I look forward to reading your feel-good stories every week! I would not have been as successful in my Miss Earth South Africa endeavours had I not had you around to share the news. I am very grateful.
EDITOR’S RESPONSE:
Dear Jessica, thank you for the kind words. At tame TIMES it’s all about spreading positive and newsworthy stories that benefit the community as a whole. Keep up the good green work that you are doing out there.
NEW PARK IN SUIDEROORD Letter by Jayne Mcauliffe
There is a new park in Suideroord which has been built for children in the area. However, more often than not once the sun goes down, cars drive right up to the park and play loud music, and sometimes firecrackers are let off. I have called the police many times regarding this. The problem is that it’s right in the middle of a huge open space, and by
the time anyone reaches them, the music is turned down and sometimes they drive off. There is no boundary fence so there is nothing to stop the cars driving right up to the park area. Also there are no lights whatsoever. What are adults doing in the park after dark? This is a residential area and there are houses surrounding the entire park. Apparently this was meant to be a skate park in the beginning, but not one resident was consulted or advised that a park would be built. As a park it’s very beautiful, with benches and walking paths all around it. However, even though there are dustbins at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite least every 15 metres, litter (including Catholic Church in Mulbarton broken bottles) is still thrown all over would like to inform the the grass. It could be a very nice park community that there will be a – but this is becoming a gathering area fireworks display at its church for teenagers making a noise.
NOTICE
festival on Sunday 22 May between 06:15pm and 06:45pm to mark the church’s 15th anniversary.
EDITOR’S RESPONSE:
Dear Jayne, I have contacted Ward 54 Councillor Sergio dos Santos for comment.
Our areas: JHB South, Bedfordview & Edenvale, Alberton & Germiston South, Kathorus, Boksburg & Benoni, Hammanskraal, Limpopo, North West Delivered on Tuesdays to households and businesses. Published by Tame Communications (Pty) Ltd.
CONTACT DETAILS
Corner Michelle Avenue and 37 Sangiro Close, Randhart PO Box 17699, Randhart, 1457 Tel: 011 862 8500 Fax: 011 869 7335
EDITOR AND SUB EDITOR
Candace Sofianos King 076 462 7504 candace.king@tametimes.co.za
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES
CLASSIFIEDS SALES
Cindy Horn Shane Stander Cynthia Ngwenya Emily Khoza Ursula Olivier Dumisani Maluleka
Tessa Arthur 011 862 8500 tessa@tametimes.co.za
082 597 6422 071 671 7364 083 242 6914 076 776 6498 082 563 6204 073 503 9853
DISTRIBUTION QUERIES George Shaw 074 601 0159 george.shaw@tametimes.co.za
DESIGN AND LAYOUT PRODUCTION MANAGER Stephen Davey DESIGN Stephanie Els Casey Wolstenholme Letitia Nel