“Go to jail, move directly to jail, do not pass ‘Begin’ and do not collect two hundred rand (R200)”, so reads one of the most interesting and notorious cards in the game of Monopoly.
Monopoly, according to those who are inclined to gambling, is a game about control, domination and power of assert at most. For me, none of these feature in my personal lexicon, as it (Monopoly) can turn out to be a game of engagement of minds and trust.
Like Monopoly, service delivery goes a long way, whether you are part of the youth, a veteran or a converted wheelbarrow. When the Executive Mayor and his councillors embark on service delivery roadshows to explain his plans and listen to our concerns, we don’t attend, yet we are the first to complain when things do not go in our favour.
Picture this, a municipal official enters your home, asks you what your needs are, like indigent status and service delivery issues. You willingly without any kwaal (hassle) give that information. When councillors come to address our needs, we then burn tyres, barricade the streets with rubble and even go to the extent of tormenting our very own kasie.
A good friend of mine once said, “khip’ imali uzobona”, which loosely translates as ‘money talk’s bull … runs a marathon’. Little did I know that this opinion would go a long way in the same way as service delivery does.
That statement opened my ears and eyes that “SA is alive with possibilities”; because this government provides the most needed services like no other country on this continent.
I listened attentively to my friend reminiscing on the good that this country can offer. When I stood up and was about to leave his place, he gave me Two Clipper (R200). For what good reason(s) I do not know.
Service delivery like the Two Clipper I got from my friend goes a long way. I will forever cherish the services I get from the government like the Two Clipper I got from him because what he said to me has opened my eyes and removed wax from my ears.
When reality dawned on me, I began to realise that that good friend of mine was not just a friend but was like a messiah who provided for the needy. Donkeys years down the evolution of events, I realise that what my friend said to me was the beginning of a long good journey that I will cherish forever like the services I get from government.
If dishonour was my relative, I would have shown my friend my middle finger and chow the Two Clipper without thinking of him. Because I’m not in the game of Monopoly, I will never do that. Two Clipper means a lot to me and this also applies to other poor families.
Through appreciation and indebtedness, let us protect the revolution and the gains we have achieved in the past twenty years. More so the services we receive from the ruling party called the glorious movement of the people (ANC) like the Two Clipper that I got from my good old friend.
Let us be the foot soldiers of this movement and stop being a nation that discharges its purgative on a river that they will drink from forever. This City and its people deserve more and let us not hold it at ransom by burning, barricading and tormenting our beautiful City.
