DEAR Editor,-
We refer to the article in last week’s Herald under the title ‘Pool makes a splash’. Whilst one appreciates journalistic independence in the selection of stories, we are however concerned at the angle that your newspaper chose to adopt in reporting this particular story, which unfortunately is starting to be a trend.
In its current form, the story gives an impression that the service provider Royal HaskoningDHV and Cllr George Henderson are solely responsible for the successful completion of the refurbishment of the Margate tidal pool as part of the broader project of Margate’s Urban Renewal Plan.
At best, this is selective reporting, and at worst it could be construed as a thinly-veiled political agenda to give undue credit to some quarters, and withhold it where it is due.
For the record, the Margate Urban Renewal Plan is an undertaking of the Hibiscus Coast Municipality in partnership with the provincial COGTA. As the term suggests, this massive project entails the overall rejuvenation of the Margate town area, inclusive of the beach promenade.
The overall long-term objective of the project is to enhance the image of Margate as a destination to work and play, especially in light of the significant tourism market it generates. Thus far, new walkways and aesthetic street lights have been constructed, and work at the tidal pool has also been completed.
This project was duly presented and received full council endorsement and was then communicated to the public through, amongst others, the media. At the very least, we would have expected your journalist to acknowledge this basic information. In fact, at the time when council communicated these plans, some prophets of doom belittled council’s effort and it was painted as yet another pipe dream.
Now that council’s promise is coming to fruition, it is a private company and an individual councillor that gets recognition and there is a strong feeling that this is misleading, and mischievous.
Further, in the normal course of business, media houses approach the municipality for comment on matters that relate to issues of service delivery and we have always believed this to be on the basis of fair and balanced reporting. What is disturbing in this instance is that no comment was solicited from the municipality and we would not want to believe that our input becomes necessary and desirable only when news being reported on is negative.
Finally, it is not ward councillors and service providers who shoulder the responsibility of blame when things go wrong, but the municipality. Therefore in the same way that the South Coast Herald is always ready to hold us accountable when we don’t do well, we believe that it is only fair that it should also recognise good work and give us credit when such is due.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
Hibiscus Coast municipality
