8 LEADER
PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 23 April 2013
EDITORIAL COMMENT
Love lost
THERE may be a whole lot of love, but no marriage for South Africans who have fallen in love with foreigners. If a South African-foreign couple are planning wedded bliss, they had better know their partner well. In an attempt to curb fraud, the Department of Home Affairs has reportedly introduced new rules for foreign couples wanting to wed in SA. Lunga Ngqengelele, spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, says in the five years to January 2012 there have been 8 883 fraudulent marriages or marriages of convenience. Home Affairs will be introducing a system in which couples will be interviewed by immigration officers. They will want to know how long the foreigner has been in the country and if they have a valid permit. These requirements have, to date, not prevented a couple from getting married, Ngqengelele said. The new rules would not apply in cases where both are foreigners. Foreigners wishing to marry in SA would have to have valid passports and a permit. In turn, the couple would be issued an abridged marriage certificate, with which they would register their marriage in their country of origin, says Home Affairs. Marriage officers and wedding coordinators have reportedly been up in arms as, they say, many foreigners were not prepared to tie the knot here any longer. However, in a country that may be considered a mecca for refugees, asylum seekers and immigrant foreign nationals, many may say the action by Home Affairs is long overdue. Many South African women have discovered they are “married” to foreigners they’ve never even met. These women have had to endure the legal roller coaster that comes with having to undo the legal wrangle as a result of these illegal unions. This plan by Home Affairs to throw a spanner in the works of deviants who see South Africa as a land of opportunity and misappropriation should be put into action with haste.
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Cellphone mast within protocol I will boycott
letters@peoplespost.co.za | fax: 021 910 6501/06 Third Floor, Bloemhof Building, 112 Edward Street, Tyger Valley, Bellville
I AM totally distressed that a cellphone mast is rapidly being built smack bang in the middle of our school zone, without any consultation process being entered into. I am beside myself with the knowledge that both Towerlink and Proud Heritage Properties 76 have sold our children and elderly out for profit. There is no evidence that conclusively proves the safety of cellphone masts. In fact, much suggest the opposite, yet we have not only a monstrosity of a structure being built in the middle of our suburb, but in direct range of four schools, the retirement homes – which is a double-storey building and directly in line with the mast – and a protective employment centre. (These are) our most vulnerable members of society and yet the permission seems to have been granted. Surely the authorities should err on the side of safety? How has this happened? How can we stop it? What happened to our constitutional rights and those of our children? I am devastated and distraught. How do I allow my children – the youngest being severely epileptic – to go to school each day, knowing their health and safety is in no way guaranteed? Is there any way you are able to draw some attention to our plight? The mast is being constructed at the rate of knots, as Vodacom and the property own-
Preference will be given to letters of fewer than 350 words. The deadline is Thursday at 13:00. Please give your full name, address and phone number (for our records, not for publishing).
People’s Post is published by WP Newspapers, a subsidiary of Media24. FALSE BAY 30 972 copies distributed Tuesdays to the following areas: Marina da Gama, Lakeside, Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Welcome Glen, Da Gama Park, Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Glencairn, Glencairn Heights, Glen Marine, Glen Ridge, Fish Hoek, Clovelly, Sun Valley, Sunnydale, Faerie Knowe, Imhoff’ Gift, Capri Village, Kommetjie, Simon’s Town and Noordhoek. OTHER EDITIONS People’s Post also has the following nine standalone editions: Woodstock / Maitland (16 391) Mitchell’s Plain (83 340) Retreat (23 423) Grassy Park (21 838) Lansdowne (21 130) Athlone (30 252) Constantia / Wynberg (30 069) Claremont / Rondebosch (30 843) Atlantic Seaboard / City (29 246) Total print order: 318 495 WHOM TO CONTACT DEPUTY EDITOR: Mandy King Email: mandy,king@peoplespost.co.za SPORT: Liam Moses Email: liam.moses@peoplespost.co.za ADVERTISING MANAGER: Garth Hewitt Email: ghewitt@tygerburger.co.za MAIN BODY ADVERTISING: Theresa Lawrence Tel: 021 910 6500 Classified Advertising: 0860 117 520 PRESS CODE, CORRECTIONS People’s Post subscribes to the South African Press Code and we are committed to journalism that is honest, accurate, fair and balanced. Under our editorial policy, we invite readers to comment on the newspaper’s content and we correct significant errors as soon as possible. Please send information to the deputy editor at mandy.king@peoplespost.co.za or phone 021 910 6500. Alternately, please contact the Ombudsman of Media24’s Community Press, George Claassen at george.claassen@media24.com or 083 543 2471. Complaints can also be sent to the SA Press Ombudsman on telephone 021 851 3232 or via email khanyim@ombuds man.org.za or johanr@ombudsman.org.za
ers know this was going to cause outrage and, I believe, are banking on the fact that once a done deal it is going to be very difficult to overturn. Gillian Zannos, Email Chris Hyland, of Proud Heritage Properties 76, owners of the Valyland Centre, responds: We see little value in responding to the two letters as the issues, particularly regarding safety, have been well aired in the media, both written and radio. We are also currently obtaining independent verification that the levels of emission from the proposed mast will be well below the internationally accepted levels. Doep Muller, director of Towerlink, responds: We followed the processes as stipulated by the various governing bodies such as the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning as well as the City of Cape Towns’ Scheme Regulation (LUPO) and received both the approvals after a very lengthy period. The Department of Health: Radiation Control made a very clear statement that there are at present no health risks. We are also very sensitive towards health and public safety. So, to further ensure that we addressed the concerns of the public, an independent company (also used by the City) measured output of the mast and, in general, the mast output is more than 40 times lower than the prescribed limit for the general public, according to the World Health Organisation.
Need help to revive gardens I HAVE been a volunteer gardener at the (False Bay) Hospital grounds for the past 12 years and have been witness to several attempts by different groups who had the shining idea to create a vegetable garden to both supply the hospital kitchen and to train gardeners. In 2003 I joined a group who banded together to improve the flower gardens which, in past times I believe, were blooming lovely. Unfortunately volunteer gardeners drifted away for one reason or another. Several appeals for help have been featured in the local press over the years, but there have been few responses. My comment is that most folk in Fish Hoek
are either too busy or too apathetic to become involved in uplifting their hospital. From personal experience I can tell you that it is hugely satisfying work. Apart from creating something worthwhile for the community of the sick, it is therapeutic work. The aching back and unwilling knees soon recover, the fresh air and appreciative comments far more enjoyable to sweating it out in a gym. So, come on, stop complaining and join those who are trying to make the world a better place. I desperately need help in the flower garden. Jandy Jaques, Email
shopping centre I AM writing to express my disgust at the proposed erection of the cellphone tower at the Valyland Centre. How dare Proud Heritage Properties 76 and Towerlink assume public participation is not required when it affects the very people who live around and attend schools within a 100m radius of the proposed tower? I can only assume the Valyland Centre is to be handsomely paid and has agreed to lease the land to the cellphone company with complete disregard for the safety and opinion of the very people who keep them in business.I know three members of the same family – my aunt and her two daughters-in-law – who have contracted unrelated forms of cancer. My aunt and her daughter-in-law have tragically lost the battle to the disease and the second daughter-in-law is still fighting for her life. All three lived on the same property in a rural town within 100m of a cellphone tower! The cellphone companies will assure you there is no “confirmed” risk and the beneficiaries of the rental income are blinded by account balances. But not enough is known about the possible links to cancer to risk over 1500 school children, who spend up to eight hours a day in close proximity to the centre – not to mention the old age home residents and the residents in the area. I, for one, will boycott the centre. I will not allow my child to patronise the shops in the centre and I will encourage everyone I know to follow suit. If there is a petition to sign to stop this, I will be the first on the list! Come on, Valyland Centre, take care of the people who keep your businesses afloat and protect our children! Kelly Croeser, Noordhoek
Thanks for coffee MY husband and I would like to thank the kind gentleman who paid for our coffee at the Wimpy on Good Friday morning. It is greatly appreciated and may our Lord bless you for your kindness. George and Nerina, Email