Thursday 18 November 2004

This site will be updated on 25 November 2004.

 Letters - Briewe

• Please leave the chameleons alone
• Noorder-Paarl gun mekaar niks
• Waar is Bernard?
• Betaal hierdie smouse belasting?
• Winkel beïndruk
• Use this tool correctly (Editorial)

Please leave the chameleons alone

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I REFER to the article about the chameleons ("Suutjies trap is geen grap") in Paarl Post of 30 September.

As I am involved in scientific research on the biodiversity and conservation of dwarf chameleons at Stellenbosch University, it is good to know that people care about the welfare of chameleons, especially given that they are actually reptiles (a group of animals that often have a bad name, such as scaly and creepy).

However, I would like to point out several worries involving the conservation and well-being of these creatures.

It is illegal in the Western Cape to transport, translocate (capture and re-release), or keep chameleons as pets, and they are not sold in pet shops. The maximum penalty is both a large fine and/or imprisonment.

Keeping any reptile as pets involves proper veterinary care. In the wild, reptiles move about to control temperature, light, and moisture. 

In captivity, reptiles need proper attention to survive, including vitamins, a regime of natural (or proper artificial) light, temperature control, and regular hydration. Notwithstanding good intentions, captivity could result in their deaths.

Often, someone who takes a chameleon home decides it would be happier in the garden or neighbourhood park, and re-releases it into a different place from where it was captured. 

Not only is this illegal, but it is destructive to the natural populations of chameleons. Firstly, the released chameleon could spread diseases or parasites into the natural population.

Secondly, it is important to remember that there are fifteen dwarf chameleon species in South Africa.

Releasing a different species into an area where it does not belong, could result in hybridisation (mating between the species) in the native population. The mixing of gene pools could cause the local population to be less well-adapted to local conditions.

Thirdly, an introduced population could totally displace the local, native populations. Such cases have been documented, and are a concern for conserving the natural biodiversity of a region.

I would discourage local residents to take chameleons from the wild as pets, but rather to establish chameleon-friendly neighbourhoods by linking several gardens together with indigenous vegetation (including fynbos plants, available at garden shops) to provide large areas of good habitat. Avoid pesticides when possible, as these "pests" are actually prey to chameleons.

When native chameleons start using these gardens, you can watch them in their natural habitat, rather than through the walls of a glass tank.

Dr Krystal Tolley

DIT is onaanvaarbaar hoe sommige inwoners van Noorder-Paarl kan optree wanneer dit die opening of beplande opening van nuwe besighede in die area betref. Hier praat ek van die nuwe Checkers wat binnekort gaan oopmaak.

Persoonlik wens ek dat die besigheid al oop was, want sommige mense dink dat hulle die base is oor watter besigheid kwalifiseer of nie.

Aan die ou Renato's wil ek sê, ons mis jou en dank jou hartlik vir al die jare se diens, en wens jou voorspoed toe vir die toekoms.

Aan die petisie-ondertekenaars in Noorder-Paarl wil ek sê, ek skaam my vir julle slegte, onmenslike en onverantwoordelike optrede. As Checkers eers oop is, sal julle in elk geval daar gaan koop.

Spandeer liewer julle tyd en geld aan die Noorder-Paarl buurtwag wat sorg dat julle elke dag met 'n geruste hart kan gaan werk, en elke nag met 'n geruste hart kan gaan slaap.

Dan sal dit dalk die moeite werd wees vir julle om Sondae in die kerk te gaan sit met opregte gevoelens en geen skaam gesigte nie.

Opreg en reguit van Noorder-Paarl

EK is op soek na my broer, Bernard (23), wat ek nog nooit ontmoet het nie. Hy bly by ons ouma in die Paarl, 'n nooi Rita Zeelie. Ek weet nie of Bernard die van Hyman, Beukes of Zeelie gebruik nie. Enigiemand wat weet waar hy hom bevind, kan my kontak by 083-643-4247.

Marquerite Beukes, Kaapstad

AS een van die stigterslede van die Wellingtonse Vlooimark en as 'n belastingbetaler, wil ek my kommer uitspreek oor die toenemende smousery deur buitestaanders in Wellington se strate.

Betaal hierdie mense wat van buite kom smous, belasting hier?

Ons het al hoeveel briewe geskryf en telefoonoproepe gemaak en gekla oor die onreëlmatigheid hier op Wellington. 

Niemand steur hulle aan ons klagtes nie, maar as dit kom by betaal, dan weet hulle ons mense is belastingbetalers.

Die laaste organisasie boikot vandag (selfs party raadslede betaal nie hul munisipale rekenings nie).

Ek dink dit het tyd geword dat ons, en nou praat ek van ons Wellingtonners, ook die inkommers boikot wat nie belasting betaal nie.

Sylvia le Cordeur

BAIE dankie aan die pragtige,vriendelike en eerlike personeel van Pick 'n Pay Wellington.

Onlangs was ek in die winkel en uit haastigheid het daar 'n bedrag geld uit my handsak geval, en ek is onwetend daar weg.

Die volgende dag, neem hulle my na die kassier Theresa toe, wat my identifiseer het, en het ek my geld teruggekry. Niks is vir die personeel ooit te veel moeite nie. Pick 'n Pay Wellington is tops.

Mev A le Roux

PROCUREMENT is one of the tools of our new democracy to ensure that everyone, and especially previously disadvantaged people, get a fair chance when it comes to awarding government contracts.

In Drakenstein we now have an extensive procurement policy to regulate all municipal tenders.

However, some of the emerging contractors still feel that they are not treated in a fair manner.

While this matter is still under investigation, there is another side to the coin.

At a recent tender meeting the project manager warned prospective tenderers that they will be scrutinised when it comes to capacity.

He emphasised that housing is a dire need in Drakenstein and that he would ensure that any tenderer has the capacity needed to complete the project.

This is laudable, considering the long-suffering residents on the housing waiting list.

In the past it has happened too often that contractors were awarded a tender, just to run out of money and/or resources halfway through.

In all these cases, it is the beneficiaries who suffer the most. In some cases they have even become the puppets of unscrupulous people who disturb and obstruct the process for their own gain.

Hopefully, more people will use the procurement policy with wisdom and vision as a tool to help the homeless as well as the emerging business sector.