8 September 2016

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September 8, 2016
OPINION
Who can
stop road
car nage?
WE have written before about the “road
of death” that the R67 between Port
Alfred and Bathurst seems to be earning
a reputation as.
Not because of any flaws in the
condition of the road, or because of
dangerous bends (it is a fairly straight
road the entire way to Bathurst), but
rather because of human error.
There have been a number of
accidents involving stray animals,
especially cattle on the road, which of
course is the fault of the owners of
these often unbranded wandering
beasts and the municipal authorities,
who do nothing about it.
But the most serious accidents on the
R67, the ones that have resulted in
death, are due to the recklessness of
drivers. Since June there have been
three such fatal crashes – all were
head-on collisions.
Alcohol is suspected to have played a
role in some of these accidents, which is
an issue all by itself, but in the
experiences related on social media of
commuters who use that road, speeding
and general recklessness seems to be a
problem.
There are a few blind rises along the
R67, and this is where aggressive
drivers take risks, passing other vehicles
which are moving too slowly for their
liking. I too have experienced such
tailgaters on that road.
In their shock and commiserations
expressed under a Facebook post of the
latest accident on the TotT group,
several people said they feared for their
safety every time they used the R67.
The same was said of the R72, which
is a much busier national route, and has
seen its share of accidents. But lately all
the fatal accidents in our area seem to
be taking place on the R67.
The grisly aftermath of Sunday’s
head-on crash was described as a scene
from a horror movie, with cars twisted
out of shape, debris scattered and other
commuters helping to carry the dead
and dying from the wreckage.
Seeing something like that up close
and personal should jar each of us into
being sober-minded and responsible
road-users. But how quickly we forget,
and try to take a chance to pass a
slow-moving vehicle ahead of us, when
visibility of the oncoming lane might not
be that good. The trucks on the R72 are
a particularly vexatious example.
And even if we are careful, defensive
drivers, we encounter other road users
who are not, and so our lives are placed
at their mercy.
Something needs to be done, but who
has the answer?
– Jon Houzet
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Tide Guide
Kind courtesy-SA Navy
HIGH
0705 1923
0753 2022
0929 2210
1153 –
0005 1302
0109 1344
0154 1420
0233 1455
L OW
0057 1303
0138 1353
0247 1541
0514 1801
0646 1905
0733 1948
0810 2025
0844 2102
GRAVEYARD RUBBLE: A resident visiting the cemetery next to the old Settlers Church on the east bank noticed a gravedigger contractor had
bulldozed through a bush separating two portions of the graveyard, and in the process of laying a new grave and replacing an old headstone, simply
left the rubble of the previous tombstones on site along with garden refuse. TotT asked the municipality a week ago who would have given
permission for the gravedigger contractor to plough through the bush, and who would clear up the tombstone rubble. No response has been received
Picture: HELMUT HARTLEB
HAVE YOUR S AY
Letters to PO Box 2871, Port Alfred - or e-mail to houzetj@timesmedia.co.za
This is an open forum for readers to express their opinions. However, the publishers reserve the right to shorten letters. Those printed are not necessarily the views of Talk of the Town. Although noms de plume may be used,
letters must be signed and have an authentic contactable address & telephone number. Talk of the Town reserves the right to not publish letters. Please limit letters to 250 words or less.
PARSC clears air on regatta
THERE has been much talk and
speculation with regards to the
hosting of the university’s rowing
regatta by the Port Alfred River and
Ski-boat Club (PARSC).
The PARSC committee hereby
wishes to acquaint the community
of Port Alfred with the basic facts.
The regatta has relocated.
Happily the event is to remain on
the Kowie River.
The PARSC will not be hosting
the rowers, their coaches and
officials. The facts may be stated
briefly:
ý Historically hundreds of
rowers, coaches and officials have
used the club’s facilities without
paying fair and market-related hire
charges. Members give up
privileges attached to their
membership in order to
accommodate the students for a
week.
Emergency numbers
Port Alfred hospital – (046) 604-4000
Police station – (046) 604-2001/2
Multi-Security – (046) 624-2508
Chubb Security – (046) 624-4810
Sky Alarms – (046) 624-2806
NSRI – 082-990-5971
Electricity (a/h) - (046) 624-1111
EMS (Emergency Medical Services) – 10177
Gardmed –082-759-2134
Holistic EMS – 063-460-0042
Fire Department – (046) 624-1111
ý An attempt to put the
relationship on a proper footing
was initiated by the club in March.
The idea was to accommodate the
rowers, meet their requirements
and extract fair compensation.
ý Through numerous e-mails
and meetings with unauthorised
“r e p r e s e n t at i v e s ”, nothing was
achieved, other than repeated
requests to escalate the issue to
those in charge of university
rowing. It was made clear, that the
club was not prepared to host the
regatta, unless an agreement was
achieved.
ý Ultimately on July 22 a “final”
meeting was convened. The
universities were represented by a
professor and an attorney.
ý The rowers offered a payment
of R25 000. The PARSC had
calculated fair payment for the use
of its facilities for the week (based
on market-related venue hire) was
R45 000, after taking into account
the current financial constraints of
universities, social responsibility
and a funding model of R100
entrance fee per participant.
ý Now this is important! The
PARSC accepted the tender
totalling R25 000 made by the
professor and the attorney and
agreed to every stipulated usage
required by the universities. A
binding agreement was achieved
and everyone left the meeting
having put in place a
comprehensive agreement which
was subsequently reduced to
writing, signed by the club and
sent to the attorney and professor
for signature.
ý When the agreement was not
signed and returned,
correspondence followed. The club
wanted to know where the signed
DA abides by conduct code
WITH reference to Charles Pellew’s letter “Time
for DA to deliver on vision” in the Talk of the
Town dated September 1, I wish to highlight the
following: Chapter 7 of the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa defines the objects of
local government. (Section 152).
The DA’s vision is based on freedom, fairness
and opportunity, and within this framework,
conduct our business in council.
As the official opposition in Ndlambe, with six
seats as opposed to 13 for the ANC, it is
unlikely that we could outvote the ANC in
council and therefore rely on our ability to
debate issues with clarity, based on our vision
to achieve outcomes that will benefit all
residents of Ndlambe.
Schedule 1 of the Local Government:
Municipal Systems Act, defines the code of
conduct for councillors and all DA councillors
fulfil their duties in terms of these codes.
It is the duty and obligation of all councillors
to challenge any recommendation that is not
consistent with legislation
It is also the responsibility of council to hold
municipal officials to account according to the
preamble of the Local Government: Municipal
Systems Act No. 32 of 2000 and Chapter 3 of
the Municipal Structures Act, read with chapter
7 (Section 152) of the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa. We have done so
vigorously whenever the need has arisen.
The development of the IDP is an open
process wherein all residents have an
opportunity to participate – and contribute –
through open meetings and ward committees.
This is also true of the budgeting and approval
process and it is here that, particularly the
Ndlambe Ratepayers Forum and PA Residents
and Ratepayers Association, have been of great
assistance in the past year.
DA councillors appreciate all interaction with
the community. Healthy debate and input from
concerned residents assisted in putting
together a budget for 2016/17 that was realistic
and sustainable. My contact details are:
083-558-3195 and e-mail ra y @ s e a f i e l d . c o . z a
RAYMOND SCHENK, WARD 10 COUNCILLOR
agreement might be.
ý What followed, two weeks
later, was a list of 12 further
requirements and usages to which
the club could not agree. Most
additional requirements were
irreconcilable with the binding
agreement.
ý On August 9 the trustees of
SA University Rowing made
themselves known for the first
time. They stated in a letter that
they would not be using the
facilities of the club.
Those are the facts. There the
matter ends.
The PARSC committee is
satisfied we negotiated in good
faith and had the interests of the
club and the Port Alfred community
at heart.
PORT ALFRED RIVER AND SKI-BOAT CLUB
COMMIT TEE
Wink fundraising tea a
success, thanks to all
A VERY sincere thank
you to all who
supported the
fundraising tea for
Wink (We’re
Individual, Normal
Kids) on August 26.
Your generosity is
greatly appreciated.
The total raised was
R2 75 8 .
Congratulations to
Louisa Samuels who
won the hamper
raffle.
The other winners
were Grace Pearce,
Laura Perry and
Marygold Harman –
c o n g r at u l at i o n s !
Many thanks to all
who helped make it a
great success.
JANET THATCHER, ST
PA U L ’S CHURCH LADIES
GUILD
Slight on integrity
of journalists unfair
THE letter under the heading ‘’spread the
coverage” by Colin Barnard last week refers.
Why this unwarranted slur on the journalistic
integrity of the TotT reporters? Surely the freedom
to photograph and write in the interest of the
whole local community is paramount? Many of us
appreciate seeing and reading features of the
charming young ladies in Ndlambe.
His alternative of a report and picture of an
oversize pumpkin on the front page is unlikely to
increase the circulation of our local paper.
Viva the freedom of the press.
COLIN MURRAY