Smithfield News

Letters

Letters

To Smiffie
Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink; Power, power everywhere and not a spark to seek.
We find ourselves in a position where we cannot drink the water, or water our gardens, or wash our cars. And whose fault is this? Not ours, not the rain. Oh no; this is the fault of incompetence; a complete and utter lack of doing the job with pride. It seems we are destined to a repeat of the movie, Ellen Brockovitch. Maybe when we have all sorts of funny ailments some bright spark will ring the warning bells.
If the Council won’t get its act together we, as Smithfielders, must take matters into our own hands and get our boreholes going. Could you imagine the powers not getting any revenue for water? A great state of affairs. I kid you not; this is the tip of the iceberg for worse things to come.
I fear that over the next many years we will have rolling blackouts. Where, then, is our wonderful generating plant? Why, I ask, is this plant not being serviced and utilized in the case of ROLLING BLACKOUTS?
I have seen in the latest Popular Mechanics magazine how kitchen waste, grey water, black water and doggy doo doo can be used to generate methane gas that runs all sorts of wonderful things
A case of the jitters?  I think not! A case of trying to create panic?  I think not.  IT IS A CASE OF TRYING TO GET  YOU TO REALIZE THAT VERY SOON YOU WILL GET BLACK CONTAMINATED WATER OUT OF YOUR TAPS,  AND NO ELECTRICITY.
Maybe our power and water will come from divine misconception!  Please; I am not trying to blaspheme but really, where to now?
Chris Torode

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To Smiffie
Let me start by commending the editorial team for coming up with such a good concept - the Smiffie news. It is indeed an empowering tool for our small community who depend on such projects as a source of information.
As a young man born and bred in this town, though no longer here full time, I still take pride in my association with the town. Lack of opportunities for our young people, leads to the massive exodus to further their studies and job opportunities, and I still believe much has to be done to combat the socio-economic conditions and unemployment ravaging the town.
I have for instance looked with keen interest at the web-site which talks about the village, and found some phenomenal history about it.  It’s interesting to realise that there are so many events and developments taking place within the town.However I wanted to provoke some discussion on certain things I have observed around the developments within my beloved town.
1. History of the town - As a young African who was born here I do not feel catered for in terms of the history of the town. It ignores or deals very briefly with the black people in the town. I would therefore like to suggest that the history on this website should be rewritten to incorporate the history of other sections of our society.
2. As for  achievers who come from this town - it should be normal for a town of Smithfield’s age to have produced some of the best within our society. Do we not have outstanding academics, doctors, politicians, engineers, artists, athletes, economists etc who come from here and who would act as an inspiration to younger generations?
3. Regarding a lack of unity - if communities in this town could join hands, many of the social ills confronting us would be combated. At the moment the community in Mofulatshepe is embarking on its own thing while in Smithfield the community is similarly preoccupied.
Put the other way for instance, there is an old school in town, the former Gen. Hertzog Hoër Skool, which is capable of training young people. But, for whatever reason, in a post 1994 period, young white children were taken to Zastron Hoër Skool and elsewhere, and when they finish their schooling they do not come back.
Communities of Smithfield and Mofulatshepe must begin to stand up and join forces to do away with a demon of racial divide which might still be in place and which hinders the progress that positive minded people are trying to create.
I hope to get a response on this critically provocative input I have made.
T Matlole-Smithfield

Beste Smiffie
Ondanks die mediese uitdaging, sal ek binnekort weer met my groot hoed, verkyker en rooi fiets uit wees om voëls te kyk.
Die grootste dank en waardering aan Dr Coertzer en die kliniek personeel, Sr Madden, Maria, en al die ander, wat my ondersteun het. Dankie ook vir almal wat vir my en Rose so vinnig te hulp gesnel het om my by Universitas Kardioloog hospitaal te bring, sowel as ons vriende in Bloemfontein.
Opregte dank aan julle almal.
Lynden Lund

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Dear Smiffie
Please would you publish a big” thank you” to Ildo for once again coming to the rescue of one of our guests in December.  She arrived with her boot lid adrift and tied with string, and he managed to fix the problem and was adamant he would accept no payment.
This is not the first time that he has come to the help of guests staying here, and there can be very few places in South Africa that give this sort of service, and we think Ildo should definitely be a candidate for “Man of the Year”.
Smithfield House.

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Dear Smiffie
This is to thank all our friends in Smithfield and beyond who so generously helped and supported us during Lynden’s recent emergency hospitalisation. Three years ago we were virtually still strangers in this community.is a privilege and honourfeel that we now belong. To those who gave us their precious time and much more, fortheand loving kindness, we are deeply grateful. May you all be blessed.
Thank you Smithfield.
Rose Lund
Herb Cottage, Church Street

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Today is a GIFT, that’s why it is called the PRESENT.
Anon.

The Alternative Smithfield News.