Madam – It is somehow with a troubled heart that I write this letter concerning the current and ongoing budget roadshow in Newcastle Municipality.
When it was stated in this publication that the budget roadshow was going to be held in Bosworth farm in the open field, we were full of hope that finally our municipal leaders were going to use the dilapidated road we have to use daily.
I was also praying that by holding the roadshow in the open field, they would ask themselves why a hall hasn’t been built. I was hoping my gràndmother would be able to ask her elected officials about health facilities.
Alas it was not to be, because our officials, maybe assuming Bosworth farm is inhabited by rural ignorant people, decided less than 10 hours from the roadshow to change the venue. The venue was changed to the more affluent suburb of Ngagane, presumably because Ngagane is better than Bosworth. When the residents of Bosworth demanded that the mayor addressed them, they were threatened with firearms and beaten by the (I presume) highly trained (in public order and crowd control) municipal security guards.
One of our own was beaten and hospitalised, and two security guards were arrested by the SAPS (I hope it was not for show). Municipal leaders, please tell us why! Why must the people of Bosworth be treated as second class citizens?
Bluntly tell us whàt development happened in Bosworth in the last five years apart from electricity, that if you recall, we had to fight tooth and nail for using this publication.
Please grow a conscience. Musani ukudlala ngathi what development is or will happen in Bosworth.
DK
Response from Mayor, Afzul Rehman:
I agree the municipal officials made an error by not coming to Bosworth, I will therefore be coming there within the next three weeks.
