But then I realised that I was thinking back to when it was a beautiful tourist attraction, a wonderful place to visit. Now, after nearly two decades of an ANC-run Durban administration, it has become a filthy, sticky mess. And it’s not even safe to visit as so many other types of visitors have moved in and made their stays more permanent.
Of course it speaks volumes that, having allowed this situation to occur on their watch, the best the ANC can come up with is a name change. Heaven forbid they actually cleaned and fixed the place up and restored it to its original purpose and beauty.
So perhaps it is fitting that given the current state of the gardens, the ANC should rather rename it. I mean, why insult the Japanese? The gardens are in a parlous state: ruined, wrecked, unsafe and stinking. How much more fitting to name them accordingly?
Obed Mlaba Park, Logie Naidoo Common or Mike Sutcliffe Gardens definitely gets my vote.
Mark Lowe
(Ward councillor: Durban North 1988 – 1999)
Berea
