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.

Reference is made to the article about the new drivers’ demerit system. It seems to be very good for the law abiding drivers, but those who drive without a care for the rules of the road and/or do not have licences, this new system will never work.

While sitting in the traffic I observed the following while behind a Metro police vehicle at a robot: A taxi pulled up in the centre of the road, onto a mandatory turn to the right. Before the light turned green it shot across the intersection and went straight up the road.
It then stopped approximately 150 m up the road in the right lane to offload three passengers.
The Metro police vehicle just wound its way around the taxi and continued on its way. Surely it is their job to stop the taxi and issue a ticket for the infringements.
It is my opinion that this type of occurrence will continue unabated due to the fact that the taxi drivers do not obey the rules of the road and the traffic officials are too scared or unwilling to deal with the taxis.
The Metro police’s reasons for this are also questionable.

I refer to the Editorial ‘God blamed for incompetence’ week ending 29 January.

The problem here is like the one created when voters repeatedly vote the same party into office out of loyalty, even if they are not getting delivery.

The administration becomes complacent.

Cape Town got a change of party, working robots and pothole-free roads.

With gods, the problem is the same, we need to keep them on their toes.

Did Jesus fail to deliver the working traffic lights you prayed for? Ask Allah instead. Did Allah neglect to get the potholes fixed? Brahman is waiting for your entreaties.

As are Woden, Zeus, Amun-Ra, Asherah, and many others including newcomers like ‘Bob’ Dobbs, the Invisible Pink Unicorn, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

When they have all failed, become an atheist and hold the municipality responsible.

The residents of Sandown Extension 24 have spoken. They do not want a helipad operating at Sandown High school (week ending 29 January).

They showed their opposition at the public meeting held on 20 January when the vast majority voted no.

On behalf of the residents association I have sent a letter to the South African Civil Aviation Authority informing it of the residents’ opposition to any formal application for a helipad at Sandown High school.

A letter has also been sent to Wilfred Tshuma, stating that his proposal has been rejected and that any formal application regarding the site of the school will be opposed. On behalf of the residents, a petition against the proposed helipad has also been sent to the City of Johannesburg. It has been signed by more than 200 people living in the area. As the councillor, I support the democratic process.

The residents’ wishes have been heard and I will support them. I now regard the matter as closed. Tshuma should look for another site.

I am a resident in Sandown Estate, and for the past week we have experienced one to two unexpected, unannounced power cuts a day, each lasting several hours.

This is quite clearly load-shedding, again. My questions to Eskom are these:

Why can you not notify us in advance before your technicians flick the switch?

Is this an effort to recoup, in advance, the millions in annual bonuses that Eskom plans to pay top executives again for their ongoing uselessness?

If not, is this a devious move to force our hand into believing that, if it doesn’t get the ridiculous rate hikes it demands, we will indeed become darkest Africa?

While Eskom sits in its Megawatt bubble oblivious to the world outside, perhaps the powers that be have overlooked this fact.

Fifa World Cup is upon us, and our efforts to convince (or is that fool?) foreigners that sunny South Africa is the way to go despite the violent crime, road rage and potholes, will be futile if potential overseas visitors have to endure constant blackouts?

As the chairman of Friends of Field and Study, I would like to add to the article ‘Field and Study falling apart’ week ending January 29, highlighted by councillor Vincent Earp.

To make it abundantly clear what the upkeep of Field and Study Park and Recreation Centre entails the following needs to be understood by the public:

The recreation centre and its buildings and grounds behind the fence are a separate entity and it is for the Department of Sport and Recreation to maintain in all respects – grounds and buildings.

Clearly this is not being done and the familiar words ‘no budget’ are one of the reasons.

The actual park outside the fence is where Friends of Field and Study are involved.

This is a section 21 company formed over four years ago when the spectre of development of parts of the grounds arose, and the public asked that such a company be formed to protect the park.

Because it is a government/council property under section 21, the Receiver does not allow us to spend any money on the property.

We are ‘guardians’ and have, with City Parks, tried to keep the parks, servitudes and council properties as well-maintained as possible.

The community must become involved as they have at Ernest Ullman Park and Recreation Centre.

The river and its banks are under the care of the Department of Environmental Affairs.

Three separate entities, all with inadequate funding, are trying to maintain the parks.

We will never be a world class city as far as our parks are concerned.

Joburg Child Welfare appeals to all readers to spring clean their homes this new year.

Your good housekeeping efforts will go a long way to helping us provide vital services to Joburg’s vulnerable children. We welcome any second hand items you no longer need – your junk can truly become our treasures!

Please call us on 011-298-8565 to arrange for collection or for any further information on how you can help us keep hope alive in 2010.

To help us further, you can deliver your donations to Bounty Hunters charity shop, which has joined hands with us to assist in our fundraising endeavours.

Clothes, books, furniture, and all household goods can be delivered to Bounty Hunters at the corner of Main Road and Fourth Avenue in Melville, which will sell them on our behalf and donate a generous portion to Joburg Child Welfare on your behalf.

Please don’t forget to mention that your donation is for Joburg Child Welfare. You will be making a much needed contribution to our cause.

We would like to sincerely thank all the readers of this newspaper for your wonderful support in 2009.

www.jhbchildwelfare.org.za

As you are aware, ATM scams are rife and the public is warned to be very cautious when using these machines. Unfortunately, I fell victim to a scam at the ATMs at Morning Glen Shopping Centre.

I approached a machine only to be told by a very helpful and well-dressed gentleman that there was something wrong with that particular machine and I should use the one next to it.

This occurred at 6pm and, as I had shopping to do and worried the machine might swallow my card, I used the one he indicated.

After completing my withdrawal I went on my way.

About an hour and a half later, I received an sms from my bank saying the entire balance in my account had been withdrawn.

Sadly one cannot trust anyone anymore.

I refer to the article in the week ending 15 January edition, two-way might become one-way.

Rivonia Boulevard between 9th and 10th avenues was a two-way since its creation in 1986/7.

In 2004 between end April and early May, a group of people had this section of the boulevard painted to indicate one-way south to north. The access from the north was forcibly closed, without legal approval.

Several objections were received and an independent survey was conducted by Arcus Gibb in Rivonia. As a result the one-way caused an additional cost to the economy of almost R5.2-million per annum.

The decision to make the boulevard a one-way was reversed and changed back to what it had always been – a two-way boulevard. The problem with the boulevard is not direction of traffic but a lack of implementation of the laws, and a disregard of the no parking, no stopping, and tow away zone signage. We sincerely hope that access can be obtained if there is a serious fire in this section of the boulevard.

There is no safe pedestrian walkway. Hawkers abound, car guards and vehicle washers have created illegal businesses, garbage is strewn everywhere and vehicles are parked on pavements without any consideration to people who prefer to walk.

The so-called pavement (or what remains) is uneven, unkempt and certainly not safe, especially for the elderly.

Unfortunately, the Joburg Roads Agency and Sandton town council appear to be oblivious of the problems that abound. Is it only the responsibility of a few people to keep our country clean and safe, and be law-abiding citizens who hope to make a difference?