I AM also a third year student at Cape Technikon in Cape Town and I would like to respond to the letter, "Huguenot Station is a disgrace to commuters" (Paarl Post 12 September).

I travel by train from Mbekweni Station to Cape Town and if you say Huguenot Station is a disgrace, then I wonder what you would say about Mbekweni Station?

The station is disgusting, to say the least. Ever since those shacks surrounding the station got there, the station became so filthy one can hardly breathe.

Yes, maybe it's our responsibility to keep our station clean, but isn't there anything Spoornet can do to make sure those shacks are removed?

If Spoornet can talk to Paarl Municipality, I'm sure our station could look like a station again.

Commuters who have extra cash take taxis to Huguenot Station in the mornings and the train from there to get to work, rather than use Mbekweni station. They just cannot take it any more, and neither can I.

A few weeks ago, I was coming home from the Technikon when I met someone on the train who was coming to Mbekweni and who had never been there before. I told him not to worry because I live in Mbekweni and that we could travel together.

As the train left Dal Josaphat Station and approached Mbekweni station, the person remarked that we must be approaching Mbekweni.

I asked him how he knew that if he had never been there before. He told me that someone told him that he would recognise it by the smell of the station.

I felt like disappearing right on the spot on hearing this. I was so ashamed that I wanted to run away or something.

I beg Spoornet to negotiate with Paarl Municipality about this situation. It is horrendous.

Disgusted commuter

I AND many Paarl residents would like to know how a council member or any other resident can run an electricity account to R25 000 or more over years.

Why was the supply not cut off when overdue (as you do with other residents)? Please explain where this unfairness comes from?

We are also requesting police or security presence in the Pick & Pay/Woolworths area, as myself and a few friends have been robbed there.

Some of us have to do our shopping after 5pm and then there is no security in Pick' n Pay parking area and you are hassled and robbed.

Mary Oosthuizen

This situation is being rectified. Security in the town centre is a police matter.

WE, the residents of the area called "Die Rug", hereby wish to express our anger at the unacceptable level of smell that is being caused by the owner (Mr Costa) of Nervi Costa, the olive plantation.

Many of our children, especially those attending Ebenezer Primary, have already fallen ill due to the awful smell of the mixture being used by Mr Costa.

As taxpayers we demand that the Municipality address this issue with the owner, by sending health inspectors.

Michael Moses

We assure you that we use only natural, organic composts for this purpose, as do many farmers in the area.

NA aanleiding van die artikel "In die spervuur: ma-valk ontsien niemand" (Paarl Post, 26 September), wil ek graag 'n pluimpie gee aan die fotograaf Leon Steenkamp vir die mooi aksie-foto van She in vlug.

Vir so 'n foto het 'n mens nie net die regte apparaat en kennis nodig nie, maar ook baie geduld en vasberadenheid.

Die valke het egter nie (soos berig is) hul nes verskuif weens die afsaag van bome nie, maar omdat kolganse hul nes oorgeneem het.

Toe hulle hierdie nes gebou het, was daar nog geen fietspaadjie so naby die nes nie - dié deel van die paadjie is vanjaar eers uitgelê, en gee aanleiding tot die valk se aanvalle op fietsryers.

Anneliese Hacker

STYGENDE pryse raak almal, met broodwinners vir wie dit nou voel of die brood platgeval het, en of die deeg nooit weer sal rys nie.

Ten spyte van stygende pryse is Paarlse mans deesdae dikwels minder bekommerd oor wat vroulief in die winkels gaan uitgee, as oor wat sy gaan uitgee in die straat aan al die bedelaars.

En of sy veilig gaan terugkeer sonder om deur te loop onder die eise van bedelaars, motorwassers en "parkeerassistente" of selfs die streke van sakkerollers nie.

Die armoede is groot: "'n Halwe brood se geld", "Oubie kan maar die sente na my toe gooi", "My vrou en kinders het nie kos nie" - is van die opmerkings waaronder mense moet deurloop as hulle hul inkopies wil gaan doen.

Dit, saam met die steeds onopgeloste verdringing deur smouse en die vuil middedorp, dra beslis by tot die agteruitgang van die ekonomie van die Paarl, wat reeds geknou is deur die insinking in die landboubedryf.

Hoe minder mense in die Paarl inkopies doen, hoe minder werk is daar.

Sake het 'n krisis bereik. Daarom het 'n klomp sakelui besluit om hand in die sak te steek om iets aan die situasie te doen.

'n Mens kan maar net hoop almal wat kan - die sake- en privaatsektor, munisipaliteit, verkeer en die polisie - sal saamstaan om die beoogde projek te laat slaag, tot almal se voordeel.