3.1 'news-words'

English home language

Grade 7

Module 10

News words

“NEWS – WORDS!”

Assignment

Dear Editor . . .

Every newspaper has a section where readers’ letters are published.

Read the following letter by Dog Lover .

Last week on the corner of Modderdam Road and Valhalla Drive, I saw a young man kick a dog so hard it landed on its side.

He ran to his friends who were dragging the lifeless body of another dog through the grass. I feared the first dog would suffer the same fate.

I contacted the SPCA but they said they could not help.

I checked that I was actually speaking to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They confirmed this but referred me to the Dog Unit.

The unit seemed very irritated that the SPCA had asked me to call them and said they only picked up stray dogs.

Details of the incident were taken down. I don’t know if somebody went out to investigate.

Just who does one contact in a case like this?

Dog Lover

Plumstead

The SPCA replies:

We have five inspectors and one driver to service the Western Cape metropole. With the scant details we have been provided with, there is no record or recollection of this event. Our standard procedure would be to refer the caller to our Parow branch, which services the northern suburbs.

An urgent issue such as this would also have been passed on to local law enforcement and the flying squad.

Other animal welfare organisations which also serve that area, include: Animal Welfare on telephone 021 692 2626, or the Animal Anti-Cruelty League on 021 534 6426

How does Dog Lover feel about:

• the incident he witnessed?
• the reaction to his telephonic complaint?

How does this letter make you feel towards the SPCA?

How would you, as a member of the public, respond to such a complaint levelled

at the SPCA?

Read the reply by the SPCA.

Do you think they have answered adequately?

Would you be satisfied with such a reply?

What would you have expected from the SPCA?

Is this expectation realistic?

Assignment

Read the following letter by Bruce of Plumstead.

FAITH RESTORED IN MEDICAL SERVICES

I appeared to have lost faith in emergency services in South Africa, but recent events have proved me wrong.

I recently employed two gentlemen to paint my house, and one morning, one of them asked me to call an ambulance as the other had collapsed.

I called 10177 and had no reply. I thought “typical – this is South Africa”. I called again and this time the phone was answered promptly and an ambulance was despatched.

I went over to the man who was lying on the grass outside my house. Within five minutes, three passing motorists had stopped and one of them, a paramedic named Paul, had begun examination of the man, called Nelson. All of them stopped without being flagged down.

Three nurses passing from Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic also stopped to assist.

A teacher, who is a neighbour, also came to offer assistance.

Within 10 minutes the ambulance had arrived and had the patient under control. Everyone was controlled, courteous and polite.

I have heard many horror stories about ambulance and medical incompetencies in South Africa, but my experience cannot be further from those stories. I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to those kind and willing people who were prepared to assist that day. You have restored my faith in the medical establishment and the moral fibre of South Africa.