I find myself wondering how our country can expect to be seen as world class, when we find ourselves faced with the inefficiency of thoughtless people.
I applied for my passport on 8 August and was informed it would take no longer than six weeks. It has been 42 weeks since my application.
I had applied for it in order to complete my visa application to work as an au pair in Seattle. My post was to start on 20 January, where I was to work for 200 dollars per week. This equates to 18 weeks loss of income. I have incurred a loss of 3600 dollars to date directly due to negligence from Home Affairs.
In spite of the regular communication I have had to take upon myself, talking to Mark, Ingiwe, Jadene, Lebogan, Sandile, Idiro, Ardile and Queen at 0800-601-190, all promising this would be highlighted for Jabulani’s attention, no-one has bothered to call me back, and I have yet to receive my passport.
The money lost to date is part of my tuition fees for 2011. As a South African citizen I am angry, frustrated, disappointed and marooned.
I have been deeply embarrassed explaining to the Americans and their embassy that it was impossible for the South African government to issue a passport in 34 weeks.

Regarding the helipad meeting, Will it get the nod? week ending 23 April.
The numerous points raised and dealt with did not have all the answers and satisfactory comment from environmental consultant Morné de Jager at the environmental  impact assessment presentation.
Noise was a major issue and often he said that further investigation needed to be done by an ‘expert’. To date, as an objector I have had no information, correspondence or comment in this regard.
I do not think the process can proceed until this has been done and we, the objectors, have been given sight of such an opinion.
If I am not mistaken, this comment is required as part of the applicant’s process, and nothing can proceed until then.
The super quiet helicopter that the applicant assures us will not be heard above the surrounding traffic noise is still an enigma to us all and I for one want to see and hear this helicopter.
This helicopter is at the heart of the whole argument for the helipad and we need to be given proof of this. The reasons given for this helipad at the school boil down to the fact that, at present, it is the only place the applicant could find within Sandton central. I acknowledge that, as a growing city, Sandton central has a need for this but on the sports field of a school, adjacent to a second school, on the edge of an upmarket residential area, alongside a busy road and intersection, Rivonia Road and Grayston Drive, is not the site for such commercial activity.
A helipad will be at Sandton City in the future and by the applicant’s own admission; that is where it should be.

Wilfred Tshuma of Heli Air Sandton responds:

An appointed  independent expert has completed an extensive study of our noise impact in the area.

The full report will be posted online for everyone to review in the next few days and it is this report that will be submitted to the relevant authorities for a record of decision.
The  helicopter, an Agusta AW 139, is but one of many noise abatement initiatives and the following are some of the key ones:

• Scientifically deduced flight path which completely avoids flight over noise sensitive areas.
• Maintaining the highest possible altitude during flight, with steep angles of descent and take off.
• Overseas pilot training for full adoption of the ‘Fly Neighbourly Programme’.
• No operation at night and on weekends.
• A high wall to shield noise and visibility from the school and residents.
• Use of the quietest possible helicopter – an impressive US $15million machine.

We are keen to demonstrate a landing on the site using this helicopter for  every stakeholder to experience  what  our operations will be like. Dates and times of these demonstrations will be advised.
Claims that this site is not suitable are without any scientific basis, which is why we have engaged the scientific process. Other locations within Sandton central are also being explored.
For the record, the fact that I am paying for these experts to conduct scientific studies does not mean that they will be biased in my favour. The regulated processes of an environmental  impact assessment are very clear, and we adhere to these processes. I challenge residents to appoint and pay for another expert opinion on this matter and, as long as due process is followed and all facts are considered about our proposed project, scientific conclusions will be similar.

Regarding your article on the cover of the Chronicle, week ending 9 April.

I too received many fines during the time the speed limit was changed from 80km to 60km.
My fines were between 10 April and the 31 May 2009 and added up to over R3000.
I filled in the forms downloaded from the Aarto website in September 2009 and sent them off to Aarto by registered post.
Now all my fines are showing up on the Payfine website as ‘case is already finalised’ and the amount now outstanding is R0.00
I have not paid one cent towards these fines. I don’t understand why Gerrie Gerneke says he has not authorised any repayments of fines during this period.
Maybe he hasn’t authorised it but I’m happy to say it has been done – in my case.
Clearly not all the right people are talking to each other.
I’m extremely relieved and I think you should publish this to encourage everyone to write to Aarto like I did before they just go ahead and pay.

While my family and I were eating take-away pizza my dad told me a story about one of his colleague’s dogs.
His dog went missing and they put up signs to find it. Six days later the dog was returned badly injured.
It was found in a dog-fighting ring in Alexandra. When I heard this I lost my appetite and was completely heartbroken! All I could think is why?
Why would people be so heartless? And why is a human life more valuable than animals?
It is just disturbing and wrong that people can place a bet on a dogfight to see which one wins.
It is time that people stop animal abuse, and the only way that will happen is if we work together as a community. So if you do come across any animal abuse don’t be afraid to report it.
You can make a change so why not make it? If you do come across any animal abuse you can contact the SPCA.
Details: Sandton SPCA on 011-444-7730 or Randburg SPCA 011- 462- 1610 or www.nspca.co.za

The spokesman for the City of Johannesburg asked for public input on the proposed tariff increases.Then he added a really stupid comment by saying that residents needed to become involved.
Huh? If residents are paying rates they are already involved. They don’t have to become involved, they are already there.
As a ratepayer, let me say that I object to these rates increases because there is no applicable increase in services.
However I will be dragged along and forced to pay anyway, even if I was to attend any meetings and put my objection in writing.
The only time people will truly become involved is when they see that their concerns are actually being addressed.

I have had a pool on my fenced property for the past 32 years, and have always believed it my responsibility, or the parents’ responsibility, to safeguard children against any drowning hazard. This proposed by-law is discriminatory and unconstitutional as it proposes to impose conditions on a small sector of the population for conditions on private property, while ignoring public fountains, koi ponds, bird baths, streams, rivers, dams and many other hazardous areas such as a duck or fish ponds found it many tea gardens and nurseries.
Many housing and accommodation developments countrywide have been specifically designed to take advantage of the proximity of open water, such as golf estates and riverside canals and marinas, without the need to legislate the erection of walls and fences.
All these public areas providing greater opportunity for unsupervised children to drown.
But these would all look silly if protected by a fence.
I would propose that Metro police are trained to enforce traffic laws, which are disregarded by reckless and unqualified drivers thousands of times daily, with the daily loss of innocent lives exceeding the total annual drowning statistics for the whole country.
The city has better things to do with its’ resources than go on this wild goose chase.

Rivonia Boulevard between 9th and 10th avenues, and more particularly to the end of the cobbled section to the north, has been problematic over the years.

Clients of the entertainment venues have a penchant for parking in the street in ‘no parking’ areas, on both sides of the road. This makes passage of other vehicles, particularly emergency and police, very difficult. The section became a one-way three years ago, together with Eden Crescent. But businesses at the northern end were compromised. They complained and after studies and public participation it was reversed.  Now the business activities have altered.
The post office has moved from the Eden Crescent access area, and the access requirements of new businesses are different. A petition has been put together by businesses in the area and presented to Johannesburg Roads Agency, asking for the one-way to be restored in Rivonia Boulevard. The Community Policing Forum was presented with a request to have the section made into a pedestrian mall.
As ward councillor I am calling a public meeting on 24 March in the Village Hall at 7pm to consider the matter. All residents and businesses are invited to attend.

I have been in public relations for most of my long life in South Africa, London and Holland, so perhaps I am mildly qualified to comment on aspects of the Mushroom Farm Park balloon issue.

Every time I catch sight of that ugly, brash thing in my sky I feel shocked. It is an abuse of my space, similar to the revolting exploitation of Christmas where we see tasteless decorations plastered over any possible space. And then we read the mealy-mouthed lies and false sentiments used to justify the commercialism. If Hyundai really wanted to be admired, and build its image by contributing to greening, perhaps it should give up the green washing that deceives few. Why not do the good green thing for the park anyway and erect non-invasive, non-abusive placards on the fence, declaring exactly what contribution has been made to the community.
I saw opinions and pictures in the Chronicle of people approving the balloon. I doubt the selection was truly representative.

It was with interest that I saw the positive comments on the desirability and safety of the Hyundai balloon in Mushroom Farm Park – Sandton Chronicle, week ending 26 February.

Desirability is dependent on one’s interest in preservation of the environment, be it a wetland or the visual impact on a beautiful and tranquil park. Many people whose life it impacts on consider this balloon operation undesirable.
As for safety, I would refer your readers to the Sandton Chronicle, week ending 9 June 2009, which gives details of accidents at the Montecasino balloon operation, also run by Aerial Displays. The report follows an incident in 2009 when rides were suspended after four people were injured.
The report also gives details of an incident in 2007 when a passenger suffered ‘serious head injuries and a crushed knee’. There is also comment from another passenger on her negative experience and poor staff reaction.

I was disappointed to witness the police confiscate the flowers from the street vendor who sells them on the corner of Rivonia Road and 12th Avenue in Rivonia.

That vendor has been selling flowers for the two years I have lived in the area and I did not see a problem. It was nice to see all the flowers displayed there every weekend.

It was not an eyesore so what was the purpose in doing this? This morning as I drove past, I observed a vendor selling fruit.