DEAR Editor,-
With reference to an article in the SCH (May 22), where the mayor of Umuziwabantu uses the ‘same old’ excuse used by most politicians these days, blaming colonialism and apartheid when trying to excuse their failure in providing basic services.
We would like to state that, while we agree that basic services were not provided to rural areas in the district in those days, that excuse is no longer acceptable.
We also agree that due to the ‘former apartheid state’, necessary skills and education was denied to a large part of the black population, but this does not give those in authority now the right to employ incompetent people.
These necessary skills take hundreds of years to develop and rushing people into key positions is definitely not the answer, as proven in South Africa over and over again, ie Eskom, SAA, postal services, SAPS, defence force, sewerage and water services and, above all, the Rand exchange rate!
In those days of ‘colonialism’, local councils were only able to use income received from local rates to provide services. There were no MIG grants, equitable share or any other form of finance dished out by national government back then and councillors were not paid one cent for helping run the town – it was done voluntarily and free of charge.
This is most certainly not the case today and tens of millions of rands are dished out annually. Councillors, mayors, municipal managers, speakers and so on, get paid huge amounts of money.
There is talk that as much as 60 percent of budget is spent on salaries and wages, which, if correct, leaves very little for important infrastructure and development.
As far as commitment of funds is concerned, if only this council would award all tenders and contracts to companies that are qualified and competent to complete the job. Almost every tender or contract awarded locally has not been completed by the original contractor and second, third and even fourth contractors have been brought subsequently, which is a waste of scarce funds.
One contract started some years ago without being completed is the new stormwater drainage system on Hawkins Street. A prime case of a tender being awarded to an incompetent contractor.
We know that local council states that it promotes BEE and affirmative action contractors, but the manner in which some tenders have been awarded is unacceptable. We are also aware that there is disagreement between local council and the provincial roads department as to who is responsible for this road, but it is still no excuse for the current state of the road.
When the current ANC government took over, the town was neat and tidy with all facilities fully functional. The fact that there has been a vast increase in the population with various townships established to cater for these residents, should have necessitated planning around infrastructure. Nothing has been planned regarding water, which has now run out and is brought in by vehicles at a huge expense.
The sewerage system is incapable of dealing with the town’s demands and has resulted in contamination of the Umzimkhulwana River, with dire consequences for those downstream. Attempts by Ugu to upgrade the sewer system has been a nightmare.
Here again the original contractors were unable to complete contracts and with the latest upgrade in Harding West, Ugu forgot (?) or were unable to award the tender for a new pump station to increase the capacity of the sewerage works, which should have been the first tender awarded. This I know to be fact as I served on the local committee liaising with contractors.
We acknowledge that it is problematic providing services to so many, but the situation is further exacerbated by a culture of people expecting to receive services for nothing. When they do not get what they want, they strike or protest, which often turns violent, causing damage and affecting businesses that create employment and drive the local economy, as has recently occurred in Harding.
Unfortunately the ANC government has created this culture in return for voting it into power, and the irony is that the same people who strike, will still vote for them again, which makes one wonder if they will actually ever understand their predicament.
Individuals had better start learning fast that they are responsible for the children they bring into this world and it is not up to society to cater for their needs. It is no small wonder why overpopulation is never mentioned as the ANC hands out child grants to encourage it and hence rely on a large support base of loyal members who have very little chance of breaking the shackles of poverty.
PAUL BELBIN AND GUY PAYN
Harding
