THE Paarl SPCA is deeply indebted to the public of Paarl and the Drakenstein Municipality for their abiding interest and on-going financial support.

The Municipality grants us the right to hold two official street collections a year, in line with a policy which applies to all local charities.

This year, unfortunately, our street collection at the end of August was severely inhibited by the presence of collectors from at least two separate charities, ostensibly for very worthy causes in the Cape Town area.

So far as we could ascertain, they had not applied to the Municipality to collect on our allocated day, nor could we get any reply from the telephone numbers they cited as a reference.

We have no quarrel whatsoever with other charities, but we need to know why a densely populated area such as Cape Town finds it necessary to "raid" the platteland for funds?

We are also extremely perturbed at an increasing trend for people from elsewhere to rock up in Paarl with collection tins or collection lists not sanctioned with an official approval number.

Mindful of the adage that charity begins at home, we believe the public and ratepayers of Paarl have the right to be protected against "pirate" or bogus collectors.

It would be helpful if the Municipality could issue a clear directive on the issue.

Reg Weiss, chairman Paarl SPCA

All collectors must apply for municipal approval and use municipal tins. The municipality must be contacted to remove unofficial collectors. -Ed.

THE easiest access to basic employment by vast numbers of unemployed youth is through the avenue of the private security services in our country.

This avenue requires very little technical skills training or any other essential life skills. The result is that large numbers of young men and women who cannot enter the mainstream of economic activity join the private security industry purely to make a living.

Because an employment opportunity is such a high priced commodity it leaves the needy employee in a very invidious position. Oppression of the employees' constitutional rights as well as the payment of the most exploitative wages are the order of the day.

Discrimination between one employee and another, and between men and women, is accepted as normal practice.

Should any employee question these unfair labour practices, they are soon dismissed or other punitive steps are taken against them.

Some security companies have on numerous occasions appeared before the CCMA Commissioner with decisions being taken against them. They have also been fined - with very little effect. At present there are CCMA cases pending against them.

Nevertheless, security companies do not improve their labour practices. They continue to dismiss, punish, underpay and discriminate against employees.

Trainee employees at C grade level are paid D and E rates. Overtime and severance pay or grievance procedures are unheard of. Women who go on maternity leave, are dismissed.

The new Security Officers' Board remains a silent spectator to all these events.

People in this industry should know their rights and insist on them.

Jo Pieterse

DRIE van my swart drasakke het op onverklaarbare wyse uit my motor se kattebak verdwyn voor my huis in Klein Drakensteinweg, Paarl, gedurende die naweek van 30 Augustus.

Die inhoud van die sakke is vir my van onskatbare waarde, maar vir iemand anders nutteloos.

Die inhoud sluit onder andere my skoolvoorbereiding asook inligting en notas van my onderwysunie SADOU waarvan ek die sekretaresse is.

Die sakke het almal die wapen van die unie op en kan maklik uitgeken word. Net sekere onderwysers is in besit van sulke sakke.

Ek wil 'n beroep op die persoon doen, in wie se besit die sakke met inhoud is, om dit asseblief terug te besorg sodat ek my skoolwerk en veral die uniesake kan voortsit.

Indien enigiemand die sakke gewaar, kan ek gekontak word by sel 083-331-2306 of werk 862-0310.

Farida Kearns

SPORTS administrators have been forced to go back to the negotiation table, following an order of the court that no children should suffer as a result of the deadlock between Boland Usassa and Sarfu's Western Province rugby arm.

Earlier this year, Boland Ussasa suspended all sports activities against local schools who play their rugby within the boundaries of Western Province.

This meant that a number of children selected for Usassa Boland teams in other sports codes, could not attend interprovincial tournaments.

The suspended schools hit back with a court order, which is to be made final on 20 September.

At a tense meeting last week, it was agreed that negotiations between Usassa and Sarvu should start soon.

It is to be hoped that common sense will prevail and that a settlement will be reached, to end the conflict which has made a minefield of local schools sports.

It is time to rebuild the bridges in our community.