Residents of gated estates may be sorry to learn they will not be exempted from loadshedding going forward.

Last week’s article “No loadshedding for estates” raised plenty of hackles before the April Fool’s joke caught on.

Ballito and Salt Rock residents who attended the public meeting at the Salt Rock library at midday on Monday, April 1, looked a little abashed at being caught sleeping, but most took the joke good-naturedly.

Seaward Estate resident Ronald de Gouviea wanted to know why their estate had been discriminated against and left off the list. “Are we classed as poor?” he asked via our Facebook page.

Another resident, Reg Ma, was outraged: “Shocking to learn about the depths the corrupt state will devolve to. A shameful act of discrimination that the recipients should oppose as the risk of social and business isolation is unthinkable! Unless it’s April 1st?”

Kingston estate resident Wendy Loker Illing also wrote in, admitting that before she realised the joke “my hackles did begin to rise. It seemed to be such an unbelievable cheek. This brought back memories of the book Animal Farm by George Orwell. And I quote, ‘All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others’.”

You will also be glad to hear that local Democratic Alliance council leader Tammy Colley has not been ousted by the upstart Helen Fiddler, and (for now) remains the dedicated Ward 6 councillor.

Next week’s planned electricity blackouts are however no joke.

Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.

Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.