Hats off to E Cape teachers
Iam writing this letter to praise and commend the hard-working and supportive teachers who contributed to the high matric pass rate for 2018. This is unprecedented!
The Eastern Cape is plagued by serious socio-economic challenges that have a tremendous impact on education so a 70.6% pass rate is not to be sniffed at.
This is a 5.6% improvement on last year and is the largest improvement in the country. These results spell out that there was much effort, determination and strategic work.
There is no doubt that the best resource that the province has, is the teachers. Without them, we would not have seen this improvement.
Despite some critics who refuse to give credit where it’s due and claim we celebrate mediocrity, I wish to extol and celebrate our teachers.
I also wish to express my deepest admiration and pay tribute to the other stakeholders who also made a mammoth contribution in attaining these results.
Any achievement merits acknowledgement and appreciation.
I therefore beseech everyone in the province to take their hats off to and express respect for all the Eastern Cape teachers and other stakeholders who, despite seriously constrained resources and the socio-economic factors afflicting the province, managed to accomplish the largest improvement rate in the country’s 2018 matric results.
I thank you.
Aphiwe Artwell Ngunge Via Email
No road marking
Nearly three years ago the STOP sign and an information sign burnt out in a veld fire at the intersection of the Schafli Road and the R102. The STOP sign is totally unrecognisable and there are no road markings what-soever to indicate that there is a stop at this dangerous intersection. This is exceptionally dangerous, especially to us the residents on the East Coast, because holiday makers from out of town will have no reason to stop.
Despite many, many e-mails and telephonic requests to get the road-markings repainted, I have been constantly told there is no budget and we must wait until April when the new budget comes. Well it’s been at least 6 years since any road-markings on these roads where re-painted. No budget!
How much was spent on food for the launch of the ARRIVE ALIVE/HOLIDAY TRAFFIC safety campaign this year? Maybe that budget should be used to get our roads safe again!
ER Moll Sunrise on Sea
Dump site ruined
Coffee Bay residents are outraged by the unthinking, irrational and destructive action of the KSD municipality Mthatha/Mqanduli in destroying our refuse collection area on Christmas Day.
Irregular collection of refuse from Coffee Bay by the KSD municipality during the past year saw refuse begin to build up and become an eyesore and a health hazard with bags being torn apart by stray dogs, and other livestock, resulting in strewn all over.
The refuse collection site is in a small disused quarry enclave next to the main road entrance to the village so the refuse spread everywhere and was unsightly.
Local resident Geoff Clark sought donations of fencing posts, wire and shadecloth from businesses, enclosed the dump site and created employment opportunities for locals to oversee and control the dump site. Staff are paid by monthly donations from residents and businesses.
This enclosure made it easier for the municipality to collect refuse, as it was contained in one area. However, the municipality neglected to collect refuse for many weeks, resulting in a huge buildup of refuse.
Then on Christmas Day, a front end loader arrived – obviously commissioned by the KSD municipality – and without any attempt to access the dump site through the gate, the loader was driven through the shadecloth and fence, destroying a large section of the fence. They loaded some refuse and disappeared, not to be seen again, leaving behind an exposed dump site.
This has left Coffee Bay with a huge problem in trying to contain the refuse generated by locals and holidaymakers.
KSD said that they would send a crew to repair the fencing. That was more than a week ago and no one from the municipality has made repairs.
Someone in the municipality needs to answer for this.
Roger Johnsen Geckos B & B and SelfCatering, Coffee Bay refuse being
This is dangerous, because holiday makers from out of town will have no reason to stop