I WOULD like to congratulate the matriculants of the Paarl area on their good pass record, with special congratulations going to Desmond Tutu High.  

The improvement in their results was accomplished with fewer resources compared to the other schools.

The school did not allow mid-year turmoil to affect their resolve to do well in the matric examinations.    

It is my wish to see more students from Desmond Tutu passing with exemptions and distinctions. This is not an impossible dream. More effort and resources are all that is needed.  

I know that for this to happen attitudes will have to change for the better.

Many former students of the school are now occupying responsible positions all over the country. The school has got a proud history.

Former students of Desmond Tutu, like me, will have to stop criticising from afar. 

The current staff will also have to understand that there can be assistance from the school's alumni. It should not be viewed as undermining the capability of teachers.

Mr Allah, your staff and governing body should have the slogan "from 64% to 100%".    

Let us make sure that parents (and teachers) do not feel obliged to send children to other schools for a good education. Let us make news headlines for good things.

Luvuyo ka Zantsi

ALL the residents of De Soete Inval congratulate the Police Service for apprehending the criminal (sorry, the animal) that attacked a 73-year-old lady with an axe and left her for dead in our neighbourhood.

We see other criminals were also apprehended by the SAPS after killing a 73-year-old man. So congratulations are in order for motivated and brave officers of the SAPS (pictures and reports in the Paarl Post of 17 January).

I would like to appeal to all residents of De Zoete Inval to wake up, as we are all in the same boat. Look out for your neighbour. Look after your area. Only if we all do something will our area improve.

Resident of De Zoete Inval

IN die sportberig oor Justin Ontong (Paarl Post 17 Januarie) word 'n afrigter aangehaal wat sou gesê het dat Justin in standerd sewe aan New Orleans Sekondêr nie die o.15 krieketspan gehaal het nie.

Hierdeur word gesuggereer dat dié skool nie Justin se talent as krieketspeler raakgesien het nie, dit terwyl hy die al vroeër in die Boland o.15 Plattelandspan opgeneem is.

Dit plaas die skool in 'n swak lig, terwyl New Orleans opreg trots is op dié krieketster.

Omdat New Orleans in daardie stadium in 'n laer krieketliga gespeel het as Paarl Gimnasium, asook weens die finansiële voordeel van 'n studiebeurs wat aangebied is, het Ontong na Gimnasium gegaan. Dié besluit is heelhartig deur New Orleans ondersteun.

Dennis von Willingh, Skoolhoof New Orleans

Die verwysing na Justin se uitlating uit die o.15 span was te wyte aan 'n misverstand tussen die verslaggewer en die afrigter wat in die berig aangehaal word. Die o.15 span waarna daar verwys is, was die o.15 Boland span wat hy nie gehaal het nie. Daar was geen bedoeling om New Orleans Sekondêr te na te kom nie. Die fout word opreg betreur. - Red.

THE Paarl SPCA was dismayed to learn of the abusive treatment of sheep as related in a letter in Paarl Post (17 January). It turns out the slaughter however did not take place there.

We earnestly appeal to the public to report all cases of cruelty or suspected cruelty as soon as possible for appropriate action.

Both the Paarl and Wellington SPCA numbers are listed in the Paarl Post. The Paarl SPCA at 863-2720 has a 24-hour answering service and will respond, whenever possible, even to offences outside its area of jurisdiction. The Wellington SPCA number is 864-3726.

Please do not put the phone down when you get the answering machine. We only have one volunteer on call after hours and it is important to record full details of the offence, the time and place and a contact number or address. Confidentiality is guaranteed.

If immediate action is required, try the cell phone number provided by the answering machine.

The Paarl Kennel Manager, Linda Groenewald, has a proud record of rescuing animals in distress, even where she has to deal with cases outside her area. Whenever necessary these are referred to the appropriate authority, but we report back to the complainant.

The public is asked to be on its guard against people trading illegally in puppies and other pets or selling slaughtered animals by the roadside.

These animals are not only being subjected to stress but may be aged, sick, injured or stolen or harbour parasites and diseases which render them unfit for human consumption.

Through its clinics and educational programmes, the Paarl SPCA hopes to foster within our community a spirit of loving care towards all living creatures, including our fellow man.

Reg Weiss, Chairman Paarl SPCA

DIS skuins na middernag en die meeste Paarliete is oppad droomland toe. Maar dit is ook die tyd wat die jaagduiwels agter hul motors se stuurwiele inskuif vir nog 'n nag van pret en plesier in die dorp se strate.

Saam met hulle is natuurlik ook 'n groot gevolg naguile wat die opwinding van die straatkant deel, gewapen met kos en drank teen die nag se donkerte. Dit is reeds hierdie toeskouers wat die gevaarfaktor die hoogte laat inskiet.

Die jaery vind nie onder gekontroleerde omstandighede plaas nie en daar is nie 'n manier om skarebeheer toe te pas nie.

Dit, saam met die normale risiko's verbonde aan motorsport, het al tot verskeie ongelukke en selfs sterftes gelei.

Die probleem kom nie van vandag af aan nie en deur die jare is daar al onderhandel en gepraat met al wat amptenaar en raadslid is wat wou luister.

Die manne wat jaag sê hulle soek 'n veilige plek om hul sport te beoefen.

Dit is ook so dat ander dorpe wel al moeite gedoen het om soms strate te sluit vir 'renjaers'. Maar sal dit dikwels genoeg wees?

Die Killarney-renbaan bied ook van tyd tot tyd geleentheid vir dié manne om hul spoedpassie te beoefen.

Die vraag is of die onwettigheid van die jaery nie grootliks bydra tot die aantrekkingskrag van dié 'sport' nie - vir deelnemers en toeskouers.

As dit so is, sal 'n wettige byeenkoms waarskynlik nie groot aftrek kry nie.

Intussen moet Jan Publiek maar genoeë neem met raserige jaagduiwels wat die strate snags op horings neem terwyl die geregsdienaars met hul hande in die hare sit.