Lifelong resident is embarrassed by what Vryheid has become
The moral degeneration and general apathy of the community, as well as the council’s failure to repair and maintain its crumbling infrastructure means that Sampie van Greuning's future generations will never know the Vryheid he has enjoyed.
TO Sampie van Greuning (71), Vryheid has always been home.
He was born in Heeren Street, lived most of his life in Klipspringer and, someday, will have his ashes scattered in the town he loves so dearly.
Four generations of his family have lived in Vryheid, and he hopes that future generations will come to know Vryheid for its beauty and tranquility.
He fears, however, that the moral degeneration and general apathy of the community, as well as the council’s failure to repair and maintain its crumbling infrastructure means that his future generations will never know the Vryheid he has enjoyed.
ALSO READ: Cllr Thwala resigns leaving the future of AbaQulusi in Mondlo’s hands once again
The fetid condition of the alley alongside the Post Office, and the parking lot adjacent to it, is an area that Mr Greuning believes warrants immediate attention from the municipality.
“During the December holiday, I parked there to collect my post and a man just started urinating right in front of my wife, who was sitting in the car.
“There is a wall at the Post Office that is being used as a public urinal and it reeks. It is also a health risk. People are peeing less than 20m from the door to Home Affairs and nobody seems to care. In that alley, there are open manholes storm drains that pose a safety hazard, shrubs are growing from the gutters and rubbish is overflowing,” said Mr Greuning. “I have been complaining to the municipality for the past two years and it just seems to be getting worse.”
The state of Vryheid’s recreational facilities also leaves Mr Greuning with a sense of foreboding as far as the future of tourism is concerned.
ALSO READ: Vryheid’s coolest cop responds to viral video that made him famous
“Look at the swimming pool. Over the weekends people relaxed there. Now it can’t be used. Klipfontein Dam used to be the venue for national competitions, when anglers used to fish for a whole week, but the facilities have been badly vandalised and nothing gets repaired. Grootgewacht Dam used to have swings and parks for the children to play. Now there is nothing,” continued Mr Van Greuning.
“Vryheid is my life. I grew up here. I enjoyed my best and worst moments here. In my lifetime, I had two cars stolen, I was in an armed robbery during which I was held at gunpoint in my own home, and a tornado once took my roof away… But the worst and most embarrassing thing I have endured is the deterioration of this town. I would love to stand before the council and tell them that. I want to know what they are going to do about it.”
Numerous attempts were made by the Vryheid Herald to contact municipal manager, Bonga Ntanzi, to discuss Mr Greuning’s concerns. However, no response was received at the time of print.
