Editor – Re: Dissatisfaction with our local government municipality.
We got very excited in 1994 when we experienced our first freedom after decades of torture and hatred by the apartheid regime.
We were going to have our first local government and we hoped that it would be led by people who know the needs and different cultures that our local municipality is made up of.
Many people get shaken by education and their cultural standing gets tested when academic facts challenge the cultural traits we all have and perform.
There are, however, some behavioural practices and attitudes that should remain intact even when faced with the highest academic qualifications a leader might have.
One of these is how we value and respect death as Africans.
The deceased and families of the deceased should be given respect, assistance and sympathy throughout their trying times. No one is immune to death.
I was a bit disturbed when I had to go and pay for the grave of my late son at our Alfred Duma Local Municipality.
The bureaucratic nature of the process is such that one is made to show the whole world that he / she has lost someone.On a rainy day, I had to go to Home Affairs to obtain a burial order. From there, I had to go to another office at our municipality.
I was asked to produce my ID document, the deceased’s ID document and his death certificate.
Thereafter, I was told to go and make copies of the three documents.
I had to walk for about half a kilometre, looking for a place that makes copies to have copies made, as instructed.
Remember that it was raining. I came back with the copies and I was told to go to another office to pay for the grave.After paying, I had to take the receipt back to the first office.
My argument is twofold:
1. Why can’t all these processes be done in one office?
2. It is a disgrace that such a big municipality cannot make copies for rate-paying residents. Besides, an original document is more authentic than a photocopied document. Aren’t we inviting fraud?
I believe our local government should service residents and also respect the diversity of our cultures.
It is like we are still led by the old regime in the name of democracy.
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