Editor
There is nothing worrying like knowing that after 20 years of democracy, being a citizen of the town of Estcourt, means that you live in a town where poor service delivery is the norm, corruption is the culture and disrespect of voters is the most flourished style.
We hear people claiming to be celebrating 60 years of the Freedom Charter, yet you see nothing in the Freedom Charter being achieved. I’m positive that the initiators of the Freedom Charter are turning in their graves when they hear some quoting the term “Freedom Charter” while we are working against the very principles of it.
Poor service
• Living in the town of Estcourt, Wembezi in particular means, that whenever you approach your councillor’s office with an aim of getting a proof of residence letter, you are most likely to spend two hours waiting because when you approached the office dedicated to this service, you get told that you cannot get that letter because you reside in an area dominated by a particular political party, hence you have to wait for the leader of that political party.
However, when you get to the second office you have been referred to, you are most likely to wait for hours while the person working in the office is busy on the phone.
• Living in the town of Estcourt means that there are times when you will return from work and find that your refuse has not been collected. Moreover no explanation will be given.
• Living in Estcourt means that you are most likely to wake up in the morning and find that you are out of water, when you inquire with the local municipality you will be told that the municipality is not responsible but Uthukela is responsible.
•Living in Estcourt means that if you are driving, you are most likely to end up with a seriously damaged car due to the pathetic condition of roads around the town.
• Living in the town of Estcourt means that whenever you declare your intention of buying vacant land, you will be told to wait for an advertisement in the local newspaper for land on sale. Yet you will gradually find certain individuals occupying land you declared your intention to buy, this occurs irrespective of an advertisement in the local newspaper.
• Living in Estcourt means that if you know somebody working there and have powers to instruct, your child is most likely to get the bursary irrespective of his/her quality of results, yet excellent performers with no connection within the municipality will find themselves without assistance to further their studies.
• Living in the town of Estcourt means that there is a chance of finding yourself using a pit toilet which the Uthukela service providers will refuse to empty after you pay a service fee of R165.
This reflects a few challenges faced by the residents of this town and I am positive that the list is endless. This clearly indicates poor service delivery, corruption and clear disrespect of voters. Trying to raise these issues will invite an attack from the politically inclined, who will jump to labelling their challengers as racists and people who know nothing about the “struggle”.
Sikhosiphi Ndlovu
