Africa Time is not acceptable

Doug Grewar, AbaQulusi Residents Association (ARA) secretary, writes:-PUNCTUALITY or being on time for an arranged meeting or appointment is a sign of respect and civilized behaviour. In the old days traditional leaders such as Chiefs and Kings would keep people waiting for hours, days and even weeks before granting them an audience. This was to show the people they were worth nothing (abaphansi) but the King (abaphezulu) was next to God.
In modern days most enlightened traditional leaders do not indulge in this primitive behaviour anymore.
However politicians whether national or provincial or even local councillors are not Kings or iNkosi and have no excuse or reason to be unpunctual. They are elected public servants and should respect the ratepaying and taxpaying residents in their constituencies by being punctual. Unlike traditional leaders they are here today and gone tomorrow. Fikizolo; hamba kusasa. From a jack to a king and back to a jack again.
The ARA was invited to a meeting in Mason Park to meet the contractors. The meeting was delayed for 3 (three) hours before the politician arrived to open the meeting. This is really not acceptable for any elected officials to treat voters with such contempt.
Again on Wednesday 11th September the ARA was invited to an IDP (Integrated Development Plan) Forum Meeting at Cecil Emmett Hall at 12.00 hours midday. We hear it finally started 1.5 hours later at 13.30.
The ARA delegation walked out in disgust after waiting 30 minutes from the appointed time. We don’t get paid fat government salaries to sit on our thumbs; we have to work for a living and cannot afford to have our time wasted like this.
AbaQulusi politicians must pull up their socks. How can they run a municipality if they cannot even run their diary properly?