EDITOR – Regarding the article, City manager a no-show at Monster Meeting, although it is sad the CM failed to pitch, it is not surprising.
A great many officials of the city, both councillors from the mayor down in the political structure, to the city manager, deputy city managers and heads of departments, units and projects in the administrative structure habitually shy away from accountability when challenged on the shirking that goes on.
That Jonathan Edkins appears to have saved the day is amusing in the way he projects the Urban Management Zone. He owes it to the citizens to post coherent details of the UMZ on the city website so we can see clearly that this project has been foisted upon us.
What began as a greening initiative (with volunteers) to satisfy some COP17 resolutions, evolved into a project employing over 200 people – many uniformed as “enforcement”.
Nothing wrong with employing these people, just that all they are doing is what the Metro Police, Durban Solid Waste and the Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit ought to be doing. And they are not authorised to enforce anything, are they?
So would Jonathan kindly see that someone gets all the ducks in a row on the website (including job descriptions, tender agreements, etc.). This would give critics confirmation that when the city fails to call its staff to order and working effectively, it sprouts a project and punts it as a brain-wave.
We really do not deserve officials who shirk their responsibilities.
Our local government experiences should inform our vote. May marks three years since the local government elections. My ward’s councillor has yet to make his presence felt. His ward has decayed tremendously. This is but one reason I am resolved not to vote for his party.
Mahmood
North Beach
