Gordon Cook, Actonville, writes:
Actonville is regrettably in a dire situation and plagued by high unemployment, substance abuse, dysfunctional families and many directionless youth.
This is a situation that is getting worse and which demands sanity and combined serious efforts by all stakeholders if we are to combat these dilapidating socio-economic challenges.
ALSO READ:
Bad behaviour spoils party for others
The DA in Actonville thinks not, and with by-elections looming (August 7) has placed personal interest above the welfare and well-being of our people.
What a shame and a disgrace.
Editors note: The Democratic Alliance Gauteng chairperson Mike Moriarty responded: “The DA has a rigorous process whereby residents will be served by the most effective available candidate. Residents require service. It is the DA’s goal to put forward councillors who will provide the best service. Accordingly, the DA’s process is structured in the following way: firstly, any DA member living in Ekurhuleni is given an opportunity to apply. This is a requirement of the party’s constitution and the country’s electoral laws. Candidates are then subjected to screening in order to only put forward people who can properly serve the community of the ward concerned. Candidates who are screened out at this or any subsequent stage have an opportunity to appeal the decisions. An electoral college then identifies the three best candidates for the ward. After that, a selection panel conducts an in-depth interview of all three candidates and ranks them in order of excellence. Finally, an executive committee reviews the process to ensure no interference has occurred and that no candidate has been prejudiced. There is only one definite outcome of this process and that is if 10 people apply, there will be one happy applicant and nine unhappy ones. I suggest anyone writing to your publication to complain is either one of the unhappy candidates or is somehow related to them (response shortened).
