The mistake I made at the time, was not to relocate my business as well.
Remaining in Brakpan has become a costly and unpleasant situation due to the total lack of service and the unacceptable attitude of our incompetent council and its employees.
More than nine months ago, I approached the Building Inspectors to address the problem of a derelict building next to my office premises, as well as the pavement which had been used for building rubble and was becoming the local garbage dump.
This was an eyesore and created an extremely poor image for my prospective clients.
Despite numerous phone calls to a Mr Crawford and his senior Mr Basson in Springs, the problem has still not been rectified.
I am told the owner of the property has business dealings with the municipality and enjoys “protection” from any form of prosecution.
From the lack of action against him it seems my information is correct.
More than six weeks ago, a large amount of water began to flow out the storm water drain in front of my office.
This on its own is an indication of blocked storm water drains.
Every day, the call centre was contacted, sometimes they answered the phone, mostly it was a fruitless exercise.
Eventually, about three weeks ago, a team of workers arrived, dug a large hole in my pavement, dumped all the excavated sand on what was once a neatly mowed lawn, and disappeared.
The hole to this day poses a serious threat to the many children who pass by every day on their way to and from school, it had no relevance whatsoever regarding the water leak, and why has it been abandoned?
All my attempts to get any response from the municipality results in “eish, we will send someone”, a phone that gets picked up and put down again, or no response at all. Mr Tobazane from the Water Department has been advised several times but like all the other employees is incapable of addressing the problem.
I wonder who will foot the bill for all the wasted water – certainly not him.
There is also the possibility that this is sewerage water as it is coming from a manhole about two blocks from my office.
Again, this water is running right past a school, posing a serious health hazard.
The frequent power failures, not due to power shedding, are a clear example of the inadequate maintenance of our electricity grid and lack of planning to ensure a constant and reliable electricity supply.
This is now impacting quite severely on the ability of my business to run effectively, as it must also be effecting other businesses as well.
During the recent “very extended” power outages, the traffic situation on the major roads was quite horrendous.
It took more than an hour to get from Rand Collieries into Brakpan Central in the morning.
Not a single traffic officer on duty.
Ironically, at the same time on other mornings a large contingent of officers can be mustered to man speed traps on the same roads.
Also, the taxis which violate every rule in the book along all the roads in and out of town are allowed to do so with impunity.
When and if any repairs and maintenance is carried out in the town, all the rubble and rubbish caused due to excavations etc. is just left lying on the pavements until out of frustration, the adjourning land owner or resident cleans it up.
Before Christmas, Denne road was re-tarred.
To this day the gravel and sand dumped on the pavement of the railway bridge has not been removed forcing pedestrians to walk in a very dangerous road.
Clearly the entire infrastructure of the management of our town is in a sad state of disrepair.
It is impossible to speak to anyone in authority and I wonder if they don’t feel embarrassed when receiving their pay each month for a job not well done.
It is only a matter of time before more strikes take place demanding more money for the work our municipal employees are not actually doing.
If you see fit to publish this letter, I am sure the majority of citizens of this town feel the same as I do, and I trust they will vent their anger when it comes to voting in the near future as it is more than clear that the current ruling party has been of no benefit whatsoever except for those on its gravy train.
Clearly the time has come to employ people who are prepared to actually justify their employment and in many cases their totally exorbitant salaries.
