DEAR Editor,-
Over the past two weeks we have waited and watched Ugu’s responses to the recent water crisis. Although some of the comments made by DD Naidoo have been positive, the general tone of Ugu as a whole should have been apologetic and sincere.
Ugu lied. They were very well aware of the consequences a closed river mouth would have on the salt levels of the Umzimkhulu River. If they pleaded ignorance to this or blamed it on an act of nature, they are claiming incompetence.
When an individual or organisation makes a mistake, a good response would be to admit it as a first step towards learning and improving. Showing remorse and apologising would also be a sign of respect and humility. Acknowledging flaws and weaknesses also displays courage, integrity and honesty, and is a positive step towards making amends and finding solutions.
Ugu has never apologised. In fact they have been dishonest and defensive in their response, claiming to have had no knowledge of the consequences of a closed river mouth. This happened before when the Umzimkhulu Sugar Mill had to stop operations due to increased salt levels caused by a closed river mouth. The mouth had to be opened urgently to prevent further damage and disaster.
Ugu turned down a free offer to open the river mouth long before the disaster happened. This decision caused a major disaster and incurred further costs for taxpayers. They must have awarded a tender and paid someone who did not open the river mouth in time.
By drawing water for consumption close to the river mouth, Ugu should have measuring instruments to monitor the conductivity and salt levels in water. Sources say the instruments indicated readings of increasing salt levels long enough for Ugu to act and open the river mouth, thereby averting a disaster.
Ugu was not honest and transparent with citizens, saying it was an act of nature and beyond human intervention to prevent the disaster. But everyone can now see that opening the river mouth by human intervention solved the problem.
Ugu continually takes advantage of the general apathy of people and the fact that most people are not familiar with the laws, regulations and their rights. This must stop. People need to be informed, made to feel safe and must have trust in their leaders, which has to be earned. Ugu wants to get off scot-free and look good by offering ‘relief’ to make up for their own mistakes, further incurring costs for taxpayers.
Given the extent of corruption in our country, hopefully this is not another deliberate attempt to gain access to millions of rands in the disaster relief fund. It won’t be a surprise. Citizens of Ugu deserve and need to know how the disaster relief funds allocated to the people of Ugu will be used to pay for damages and future water crisis prevention. We do not want this money to be misappropriated, knowing how vulnerable we, as people of Ugu, can become in just a matter of hours.
E RANGASAMY
