AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT ZUMA
Dr Hennie Barnard 22/07/2010

The Honourable President of the Republic of South Africa
Mr Jacob Zuma

Dear Mr President

A church leaders' conference was held in the Kempton Park City Hall on May 6, 2010 where the crime situation, associated challenges and the public's fears were discussed amongst the church leaders, Genl. Mokwena and a delegation from SAPS. The result of this was a joint undertaking and a request:

• The church leaders will henceforth fight crime this way: We accept that all authority come from God and will therefore, where necessary, force ourselves to react in the opposite spirit regarding the issues where we do not agree with S.A.'s government. We undertake to start to genuinely and whole-heartedly honour and respect you and those in your government, and to pray for all of you with an urgency like never before. We will further encourage everyone in our spheres of influence (primarily our congregations) to do the same. This should result in God's plan for sound and good governance to click into action. A sub-set of good governance is the inevitable restoration of proper law and order which in turn will lead to South Africans starting to co-exist in harmony without living a life of fear.

• Despite the excitement of the 2010 WC, the soccer T-shirts on Fridays, the calls for unity and everyone trying to put their best foot forward to welcome the world, tens of people are still dying unnecessary every day at the hands of criminals through contact crimes. For this reason, there was consensus when the call was made to bring back the death penalty. All life is precious. But criminals have seized to understand the severity of their deeds as their own lives are not endangered at all when successfully convicted of murdering, slaughtering, maiming, raping or causing permanent blindness to a baby. We therefore ask you to re-instate the death penalty a.s.a.p. as punishment for serious contact crimes at least until such a time that criminals understand the biblical eye-for-an-eye principle.

We thank you for exhibiting strong leadership and courage in taking this bold step. We know it is for the better of South Africa as a whole.

Comments:
Johan Blignaut 22/07/2010
The above mentioned open letter from Dr Hennie Barnard was posted and emailed to the President at president@po.gov.za
If you are sympathetic to this cause please copy the letter and paste it into a new email to the President. From my personal view point, I fully agree with the contents of the letter and has already emailed the letter to the offices of the President.

TREES NEED TO BE CUT
Frans Smith, Tel: 011 974 8914  22/07/2010
Thank you for this new feature.
I have two very large trees on my home pavement which have to be cut as they have become too big and hang over the road and poses a problem as high vehicles actually collide with them, especially in summer after rain.  As these are on the pavement Ekurhuleni Metro is responsible for the trimming but it has been an impossible task to try and talk to anybody who can actually point you in the right direction as to who is responsible for this task.  The general enquiries number answered by a very pleasant lady  provided a number – 011 921 2311 which is supposed to be the contact number for the department handling the cutting of pavement trees, but for the last two weeks solid this number has been engaged.  Even before normal office hours it is engaged.  We have not been able to secure an alternative number and desperately would like to make arrangements to have the cutting done before the trees start sprouting for summer.  If you are able to provide a number or even an address of the relevant department it would be much appreciated.  Thank you for a very usefull web site.

Comments:
Johan Blignaut 22/07/2010
Please direct your complaint to Mr Gawie van der Merwe at 011 999 4098. He is the Manager of Metro Parks & Cemeteries. His secretary is Karen Botha 011 999 4078.  For the latest telephone numbers of municipal services please click here