You have to wonder about the priorities of local government.
Recently, a big stench was raised regarding the almost R900-billion the metro spent on providing chemical toilets to the informal settlements.
Not long afterwards, the metro announced they have appointed new service providers for the supply of mobile toilets in informal settlements across the City, in line with the mission to reinstate the dignity of the people.
The is all good and well because dignity is important, but is it not amazing how quickly service providers are appointed for certain tasks, yet in other important matters it seems there is a never-ending delay?
And why are new service providers appointed? Something does not smell right.
One can understand that there are all kinds of red tape to negotiate when it comes to the government’s supply chain management processes, but it seems things can be done, and very quickly, as in the case of the toilets, when political will and certain agendas align.
By the way, regarding the toilet saga, Kate Lorimer, MPL DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, recently reacted by saying she is disappointed to learn that the metro is spending over R3 300 per month on a single chemical toilet.
Yes, that is how things roll in the south of Africa. Certain things it seems require attention, and lots of money, and other necessities are left buried under excuses.
Let us take, for example, the Boksburg Library. Part of the structure of the library, located next to the Boksburg Civic Centre, collapsed in February this year.
You would think this is a priority to fix it. I mean a lot of people still visit the place, including adults.
Granted, library users still have access to the adult section material, which they can request through the junior section of the library. But really, it has been six months give or take, and apparently we are still waiting for a contractor to be appointed.
Yet finding service providers for toilets gets done quickly. Does the local government not care about important services like the library?
Or how about the Scribante saga? You know, the one where for a long time the elderly and the frail at the municipal-owned building are forced to use stairs because of the broken lifts. Yet the lifts are still not fixed, and the excuses pile up.
So it seems the metro cares more about toilets than the elderly.
Of course, the non-operational lifts at the civic centre are getting plenty of attention because it boils down to priority.
And what about the Boksburg Lake? Still not remediated after years of complaints, even though it is understood something is happening in terms of such a course of action, even though the Advertiser cannot quite find out what is up.
So you have to conclude the library and the environment is not really so important.
Case in point, consider that for the past two years, a liquid of an unnatural bluish-green colour has been intermittently flowing into the dam at the intersection of Rondebult and Yaldwyn roads.
The Advertiser ran numerous articles about this suspected waste pumped into the dam, which apparently raises serious ecological concerns.
You would think that the metro would try and solve such an issue urgently, but still the environment suffers.
There are many such cases in Boksburg and most definitely on the East Rand, including matters of infrastructure neglect.
You can only but scratch your head in amazement, hoping that at least cable theft and constant power outages do enjoy the metro’s full attention.
I know, we can only but dream as the fairies dance to the macabre melody of the president and the public protector’s furious squabbles.
