‘Doom, gloom and despondency has never defeated adversities. Trying times need courage and resilience.’

I am just a mere citizen of the town and I somehow prompted to write this letter after reading a letter titled ‘Grass cutting in not under control‘ (Estcourt News, February 19, page 6).

We cannot dispute the fact that the municipality has had its share of shortfalls in its operations in certain segments of its day-to-day operations, and we should not beat about the bush in bringing forth these issues, as tax payers and members of the public.

I think it is rather paramount that in the midst of trying to provide constructive criticism to our ever hard at work municipality, we should also be weary and tread carefully at the elements of a moderate fascist agenda in our pursuit to air our views.

The municipality should be criticised when they have faulted but it is also responsibility to give praise when they have excelled.

Little is said about the good as opposed to the bad, which always finds expression and leaves a strong signal of a lack of patriotism.

It is rather alarming to see the level of ignorance contained and direct vested interest in the municipal affairs in the aforesaid letter, the author willingly suspended his/her/their worldview on matters of importance and reality.

Maybe it would be proper for one to bring to the attention of our people the real issues that are believed to be a chief course of this blatant and unnecessary attack levelled against the Acting Municipal Manager.

It is also unfortunate that our people are subjected to this disgusting public display of politics and internal dynamics of the municipality, for the mere agenda of discrediting the administration.

One has been substantively informed by Telcapagama that the mentioned letter is one of many that will be fed to our people in an effort to salvage one’s dignity and to give a name to that particular person would cost an arm and a leg.

The agenda here is not to help nor to assist the municipality to correct its wrongs in good faith but it is solely to discredit all that is good, and what is perplexing and seething is the fact that the local newspaper seems to be greatly amused in this regard.

I hope against all hopes that we are not faced with a reactionary media whom by choice or default is concocted in the evil corrosion that is going on at the municipality.

With the merger of Umtshezi and Imbabazane municipalities, there is a lot that has to happen, which requires executive decisions, which must be taken by the executives of the municipality.

It is a privilege to tell you that the management has just come out of a gruelling audit process while the author and his/her bedfellows accept the Acting MM to be the alpha and omega of all the municipal operations. To those who are not allergic to power of reason, know that such should not be the case.

We are made to believe that these external evil forces have got foot soldiers within the municipality who are going to sabotage the operations. While we try to report misgivings of the municipality, we should make sure that we are clear of any agenda.

In the five years that we have had this outgoing council, they have done an excellent job in the areas of job creation, Local Economic Development, etc and we must give thanks for their efforts.

The reasons we are complaining about these small issues and hide behind ‘we are tax payers’ is because we are endowed with good service delivery.

How many of us have written to congratulate the municipality for its measures that has led this town to not experience load shedding?

How many of us have taken time to thank this council for its many progressive programmes?

Today 320 youth of this town from disadvantaged families will soon receive driver licenses through the courtesy of the municipality and this is a means to equip our people as a means of skills development, which is aimed at curbing poverty.

When are we going to be willing to talk about such achievements as the citizens of this town? When are we going to be willing to see the state-of-the-art taxi rank and other projects in our communities?

As a community we have a responsibility to form committees that will deal with issues and communicate our displeasure to all government institutions.

Our newspaper should be consistent in reporting, which is vitally paramount to avoid drowning in a river of paradoxes.

Lastly, I would like to thank all councillors under the stewardship of Councillor BD Dlamini or should I say Comrade Mayor for the resounding work they have done.

We have seen progress and we have seen change reaching our people, we have seen a remarkable transformation in our town, your administration is doing a wonderful job in keeping the ship afloat in the midst of many enemies of progress.

Honest Anonymous