* The situation in Roosboom is a wake-up call for local politicians. A plethora of promises were made to the residents of Roosboom.
They are still waiting and waiting. When the demarcation boundary was being drawn up, Roosboom was saddled with parts of Rose Park and Van Riebeeck Park, for obvious reasons mind you.
Some people called it a loaded dice. But the residents of Roosboom correctly compare the services rendered to their ‘neighbours’ and realise they are getting the wrong end of a pineapple. The reality is that those residents were promised a better life and they are still waiting.
* The ANC must be commended for its no-holds-barred statements in support of Palestine. But one wonders why the Israeli diplomat is still in the country. Our president’s decision to send a delegation to Palestine to assess the situation and to coerce Benyamin Netenyahu is akin to farting against thunder. Will Netenyahu submit or succumb to the requests of the SA delegation? He told Hillary Clinton and Obama where to get off. Is he going to even listen to Aziz Pahad and company? This time-wasting exercise resembles a forked tongue approach to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, and there is mounting speculation that the Jewish lobby is using the carrot and stick approach to soften the ANC-led government.
* I am pleased to report that since this column highlighted the pathetic level of service in the Dispensary section of the Provincial Hospital, the service has improved somewhat. It is far from faultless, but the positives must be acknowledged and commended. Let’s hope this is sustained.
* The Town Hall clock remains dead. I believe the person who was a fundi on repairing the clock is not around anymore. To get someone else to get our town back in time is proving to be mission impossible. Let’s hope someone from somewhere emerges to fix the eyesore.
* There appears to be no move to reconsider the one-way circus in the CBD. Our town can do without this Koos Breedt brainwave. It is a nuisance that wastes petrol and time.
* The National Assembly has adopted a revised code of ethics for MPs, The Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Member’s Interests, which prohibits all elected public representatives from doing business with the state. Under the code, the ban on doing business with government extends to the spouses and dependants of elected representatives. It also prohibits the business partners of members of cabinet, parliament and provincial legislatures from benefiting from state contracts “arising out of the association with the member”. The code was passed in the wake of 19 members of the president’s cabinet, including the president himself, holding private business interests, according to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission.
* The ‘Boxer bridge’ is being plastered by flyers advertising a plethora of services. To say that they resemble litter pasted on the bridge would be a true statement. They all have contact numbers, so prosecuting them would not be a problem! Or would it?
* Fuel will go up again on Wednesday morning (midnight). Are you surprised? The motorist is being screwed left, right and under!
* According to reports, uThukela states that the recent water disruptions were due to unavailability of spares caused by labour protests in the engineering sector. You believe this nonsense?
* If one buys prepaid electricity for, say, R100 on July 31 and R100 on August 1, the amount of units is far greater on August 1. I still cannot understand this difference. Why does electricity get more expensive as the month gets older?
* The security personnel at the entrance to the Town Hall are quite friendly and efficient. They press the remote graciously to allow you to enter. But the remote, lack of it, on the other side of the door is a poor reflection on our council. Will it cost an arm and a leg to replace it?
