January 13
Help me – make a booking!
In response to Jacqui Roussow’s letter (“Locals deserve a better break,” Courier, January 6) I would like the opportunity to clear something up about the functioning of a popular restaurant during its busy season.
Firstly, I don’t just own Mozambik in Ballito. I own another three (two in Johannesburg and one in Hillcrest – a lot of people from these areas holiday in Ballito) and I know the locals support me throughout the year like I myself support businesses in Ballito.
You have to understand that all customers in my restaurant I treat as equal. I don’t want this to be a mudslinging match as I am not a fighter, I’m just a chef and I want you to understand the restaurant business.
In season I start at 7:30am and do my paperwork for the day for my two Kzn Stores. I let my staff in at 8:30am where I join them in the kitchen to prep for the day. We open and hope that nothing goes wrong, that food comes out quickly and nothing catches on fire. I finish at around midnight and I do this every day for three weeks during the Christmas season.
From December 16 to January 6 we cook over 16 000 meals. Here is how I run my operation: People book tables, we fill the restaurant and once the restaurant is full we run a waiting list of about 15 tables (This is where I “make a plan”) which we then phone when the booked tables are vacant. I know how many people I’m capable of feeding over a serving and 15 extra tables is my limit. Unfortunately I cannot do more and this is when we say we are full.
There is an easy solution to this problem and I know I speak for all my good friends in the restaurant game: Please book a table in advance.
However, to make up for Jacqui’s disappointment I would like to offer her and her partner a free meal at a time that suits her. Jacqui, please call me on 032-9460979.
From myself and my staff, have a great new year and I thank all my customers local and out of town for their great support.
BRETT MICHIELIN
Ballito
*****
No more New Year parties in Ballito
Through the medium of your paper I would like to make an appeal for support to put an end to the New Year’s Eve parties that many residents in the Sandra Road area have been subjected to in the past.
This last party was by far the loudest as I could only get to sleep around two in the morning.
I live some distance from the party venue so can only imagine what residents in the immediate area were subjected to.
What I find more disturbing is the fact that the party is held for private gain at the expense of dozens of residents and businesses.
Enough is enough, it is time to send the party back to the inland side of the N2, to one of the undeveloped industrial sites.
Please will all affected residents act now before the organizer is granted permission to legally disturb the peace again.
E R MITCHELL
Ballito
*****
Well done, lifesavers
I would like to commend the lifesavers who were on duty at Thompson’s Bay during the holiday season. They were faced with massive crowds and strong currents daily.
On two occasions I witnessed these guys saving swimmers in trouble in very dangerous seas. The currents were very strong and they worked quickly and efficiently to get the swimmers to safety. On the second occasion they battled the currents for at least 15 minutes before being able to get back to shore.
I was disappointed, when less than 30 minutes later, two burly ‘manne’ with their six-pack muscles verbally abused the lifeguards when they were asked to move over and to swim between the flags.
Sis on you – if you get into trouble, the lifesavers will be the first to put their lives on the line to get you back to shore. Have some respect!
ANNICK VAN ZYL
Chaka’s Rock
*****
Excellent control at Umdloti
I’d like to commend the Umdloti Ratepayers Association and the Metro Police for arranging and maintaining excellent order during the festive season in Umdloti.
However, I wished that the visiting beach dwellers would apply discipline and hygiene and clear up the mess they create.
HUBERT BALZER
Umdloti
*****
One law for Councillors and one for workers
I am appalled at the arrogance of the government by applying one law for municipal councillors by giving them three months gratuity while the labour laws gives workers one week for every year worked i.e. five weeks.
R266 million has been set aside to fund the payout while the SA Municipal Workers Union says an amount closer to R500 million is going to be wasted on the “unjustified” gratuity.
Taxpayers should demand their equality clause rights in Section 9 of our Constitution. Another example of taxpayers’ hard -earned money, which could be put to much better use.
FRANK DU TOIT
Ballito
*****
Article deserved more important placement
In your January 6 issue, it dismayed me to see, on page 24, after the three pages dedicated to real estate followed by bits on leisure, food, fun and kiddies puzzles, the sad, moving story of an elderly lady who has been raped and lives in squalid conditions.
Putting myself in her shoes, holding onto her dignity, she poses for the photo with the hope that it may bring some change in her life. It is indeed an insult to her struggle for you to put an article as important as this on page 24 of your 32 page issue.
How is your placement of the article, relative to other articles, conveying the impact of her situation? Her article does not belong between the “North Coast Musical Festival” article and the “Services” section. I await your education on the matter.
ROGERS GOVENDER
Tongaat
Articles in the Courier are placed according to immediacy and topicality, not in descending order of importance. All articles are important or they wouldn’t be there. It would be bad business practice to have “more important” and “less important” pages. You read the article and everybody else did, so I think suffice to say it received attention as intended. – Editor.
*****
Flycatcher and chicks in Ballito garden
After reading your delight in observing the Paradise Flycatcher in the Berg (Two Bits Worth, January 6), I thought I should share my opportunity of watching a pair of the same species raising a family of three between November 25 and December 7, 2011.
They had nested in the overhanging branches of next door’s Tibouchina tree and with the help of a 300 mm zoom and a step ladder I was able to capture their daily activities, a sample of which is attached. Enjoy!
COLIN SEALBY
Ballito
*****
Rajbansi will be remembered
Love him or hate him, Amichand Rajbansi made an indelible mark in politics. The mere fact that he was returned to parliament since 1994 in our new democracy speaks volumes for his continuous support in the community.
Rajbansi will be remembered for his humanitarian work. While there has been mixed reactions from the community after his death on his political journey, his tenacity and no-nonsense approach to politics is well known. Rajbansi was also responsible for aligning his party with the ANC which saw power shift from the IFP to the ANC in the province of KwaZulu Natal.
However I want to remember him as a person who stood the test of times and has done great work in the constituency he served with dedication and passion.
May his good work be cherished and remembered in his stronghold of Phoenix and Chatsworth while he enjoyed some support in other pockets of the province and beyond. Personally I have met him and interacted with him a staunch devotee of Lord Hanumanji.
May the Almighty grant the family strength and courage to bear the irreplaceable loss.
CLLR. MADHUN SOBRAM SING
Shree Hanuman Temple Group
Stanger Manor
*****
Why are we paying so much for water?
As the vast majority of residents in greater Ballito now realise, we are at the mercy of Siza Water.
Currently we are paying, those of us who pay for water, R12,25 per kL. You will note on your account that there is no “free” 6kl per month that we are supposed to have provided.
Perhaps Siza Water can publish a breakdown how they arrive at this cost, as we consumers are entitled to be advised of how those extremely high charges are arrived at.
The price is far above the norm. Even in Johannesburg, where water is recycled up to seven times, the potable water cost is dramatically lower than our price, plus they get 6kL free per month.
On our doorstep we have the Indian Ocean, an endless supply of water which can be processed through desalination plants to provide excellent potable water. The authorities would like you to believe that the desalination route is extremely expensive. That is a nonsense story.
The Mossel Bay / Sedgefield desalination plant was installed in 2010. This plant is able to produce potable water at approximately R4,50 per kL and is sold to the consumers at approximately R7,50 per KL. i.e. R4,75 per kL less than what we pay. It has the capacity to produce more than enough potable water even over the main holiday season.
I would suggest that the installation of one or even two desalination plants to serve the greater Ballito/Salt Rock areas would be less costly, and considerably more cost efficient.
It is therefore essential that Siza Water produce audited understandable figures to explain their current high price. Those figures must also show how much money per KL is being paid to their parent company, how much is being paid to the KwaDukuza Municipality and must explain why we, the normal paying consumers, are not provided with the legally required 6kL of free water per month.
Should Siza not respond in the very short term the entire matter will be passed over to the Consumer Council and the Office of the Public Protector. This is necessary as we have now arrived at the point where the “few” can no longer pay for services to the “many”.
GEORGE N GRAY
Ballito
*****
Please help me with this family
In response to the article, ‘Appeal for Help” (Courier, December 23), please may I ask that people open their hearts to the family of nine in Nkobongo. Let’s ‘Adopt a Family’ and make a difference!
We have been able to help with some food and girls clothing, but still need more.
The mum is bed-ridden as she had a stroke and her 23-year-old unemployed son (he is desperate for work) looks after her and the rest of the family. The seven grandchildren all go to school.
The mum needs to be taken to the hospital once a month and I may need help here.
I would really appreciate help with the following: a 2-4 plate stove, school clothing and stationery, clothes and shoes for boys aged 14 to 23 and girls aged 8 to 14.
There are also four kittens which need to be spayed and six dogs (they have been spayed). They really love their animals and the animals look very happy and are well loved, so any food contributions or finances for the spaying of the kittens will be very welcome.
Your tiny contribution can make a huge difference. Please contact me on 082 769 2675 / lornamarydaniels@gmail.com.
LORNA DANIELS
Ballito
*****
Someone attend to the potholes!
I work long hours and was driving home alone last night when I hit a huge pothole just past Lifestyle and my tyre burst.
Surely this town can do something about these dreadful potholes! If the department of roads can’t, why don’t the local business people from Lifestyle or Junction? Please try! Peoples’ lives are at risk.
BRENDA CARSE
Ballito
*****
