It seems that the coronavirus has changed the world forever, but regrettably, one thing that has clearly not changed, is the lack of respect some have for others.
It is 5.40am on Friday, 16 October 2020 and I am sitting at my computer, typing this letter.
Yes, you read correctly, 5.40 in the morning, typing a letter, after having been rudely woken up by booming, distorted, obtrusive music, emanating from Hoërskool Noordheuwel.
Incidentally, this booming, distorted, obtrusive music actually started yesterday afternoon already, but we were blessed that for once, it did not carry on long into the night!
For 16 years, we have been subjected to a barrage of inconsideration and insensitivity from the school, and the sad reality is that notwithstanding the fact that we have addressed this matter over and over, our appeals to be considered, continue to fall on deaf ears.
There is clearly no regard for the residents in the area, no regard for people who have to go to work each day and no regard for residents who are ill. There is simply just a total lack of regard and a total lack of respect for anyone!
Just as long as Hoërskool Noordheuwel are doing what they deem fit, all are expected to merely accept their flagrant and disrespectful actions.
Clearly, neither the headmaster nor any of the staff members live in close proximity to the school, as I am certain that if they did, they would realise how sound travels, and perhaps then, some form of alternative would have been considered.
However, the residents are clearly expected to accept the fact and tolerate being woken at 5.40am, as well as being unable to sleep until late at night when they have functions, due to either the “testing” of their ghetto blaster or simply the high-volume music that is played throughout their ongoing events??
This situation, like all the others over the past 16 years, is most definitely a blatant disregard of all municipal by-laws and a clear indication of the total lack of consideration for the residents, who are all expected to continuously tolerate this ongoing, unadulterated cacophony.
This is very disconcerting, as clearly this type of flagrant behaviour and total lack of respect and disregard for others are also teaching learners that it is not necessary to have any consideration or respect for others.
Surely, as this is a residential area, we as homeowners and ratepayers are entitled to some degree of peace and quiet in our suburb and moreover, in our homes?
Please bring back Level 5 lockdown, Mr President, so that we can have some peace and quiet!
Hoërskool Noordheuwel replied as follows (in Afrikaans as requested):
Die brief, soos verskyn onder die skuilnaam “Sick & Tired”, het betrekking :
Nories is volgende jaar ‘n volle 40 jaar oud en ons roem ons daarop dat ons, ons bure en al die Noordheuwel-inwoners dwarsdeur die bestaan van die skool nog altyd ‘n mooi verhouding het, gekenmerk deur bedagsaamheid en respek, soos wat dit by ons skool se rype ouderdom pas.
Ons is dit eens dat ons, soos enige ander skool in die omgewing, van tyd tot tyd funksies vir leerders, ouers asook die groter Krugersdorp-gemeenskap aanbied.
Die afgelope vyf jaar vind “Afrikaans in die wolke” jaarliks plaas. Ongeveer 12 000 tot 15 000 mense van regoor Gauteng kom deel in hierdie musiekfees. Bure in die omgewing word formeel daarvan in kennis gestel en ons kry ook die nodige toestemming van die Munisipaliteit en die nodige owerhede.
Vrydag 16 Oktober was die laaste skooldag vir die Matrieks 2020. ‘n Uitsonderlike Matriekgroep – seuns en dogters wat, ten spyte van soveel teleurstellings: geen sporthoogtepunte, geen kultuuraktiwiteite en géén Matriekafskeid (!!) steeds positief gebly het. Dís óns Norie-Matrieks! Ons Skoolhoof met sy omgeehart het besluit om hierdie uitsonderlike groep kinders, wat so baie hoogtepunte nie kon beleef nie, te bederf met ‘n vroegoggend verrassing deur ‘n bekende en uiters professionele kunstenaar te nooi om hulle te verras. Dié sanger wou vir ons Matrieks ‘n onvergeetlike ervaring bied en sy klanktoets is vroegoggend gedoen, sodat hy slaggereed kon wees vir sy Gr 12-eregaste.
Mnr Kriel en die personeel was dit eens: ons gaan ons Matrieks op ‘n spesiale manier groet … een uurtjie se musiek om as kosbare herinnering in hul harte te bêre. Vyf jaar lank was hierdie uitsonderlike groep leerlinge deel van die Norie-familie. Ons het daardie oggend elke kosbare familielid gegroet soos wat ‘n liefdevolle familie dit gewoonlik doen: met die mooiste wense vir ‘n blink toekoms !
Dankie aan elkeen van ons uit-die-boeke bure wat die hart van ons hoof, elke onderwyser en elke Norie-tiener verstaan. Dankie dat julle ons die vryheid gun om binne perke ons kinders so ‘n bietjie vrye teuels te gee. “It takes a village to raise a child,” sê die wyse Nelson Mandela. Dankie vir elke Noordheuwel “villager” wat deur soms bietjie ore toe te druk, ons kinders toelaat om sorgvry jonk te wees, soos toe ons tieners was …
Ons skoolklok lui weer dankbaar en vrolik, ons ouers se karre karwei weer kinders getrou uit al 4 windrigtings skool toe, ons onderwysers hou net soos altyd entoesiasties skool en ons Norie-tieners is weer 100 persent … voluit NORIES !
As daar dalk iewers iemand is wat siek, moeg …( of dalk so ‘n bietjie bitterbekkerig) voel …. Hier ‘s wyse Norie-raad: Die lewe is kort – leef dit met wysheid.
Ns. Aan Sick & Tired: Kom drink gerus volgende keer ‘n Norie-koffie, ons Engelse juffrou gee graag les in die gebruik van die regte “tenses” en help ook gratis met die kies van die gepaste Engelse woorde in moeilike, lang en erg akademiese paragrawe …
