DEAR Editor,-
HCM spokesman Simon April is being naïve when he says ‘he can think of no reason why government employees would deny that they complained openly to a newspaper reporter about poor working conditions and facilities’, but he has no problem believing the alleged claim from workers that the reporter pretended to be a HCM official in order to dupe unsuspecting staff into sharing their grievances with her?
Does it really not occur to Mr April that these workers are almost certainly fearful of victimisation after being confronted by a disgruntled employer, and that it’s very likely they will feel compelled to lie their way out of their predicament, with or without the encouragement of their employer?
Why should we believe Mr April’s claim that the HCM’s complaints line is ‘fully functional’ and that residents are satisfied with it? A recent complaint of mine has resulted in nothing more than a reference number. That’s why people resort to the press, our watchdog, and that’s why the ANC hates a free press.
Clearly HCM wants complaints kept out of public media, but obviously the only way to honestly achieve that goal is to clean up its act. More than 20 years have elapsed since the ANC came into power. Each time elections approach, we are promised a clean-up, but the promises are never fulfilled. Why should we believe they ever will be?
Finally, I have no hidden agenda, I am not connected in any way to the Herald, I do not know Shona Aylward and I am not a DA spokesperson.
CONCERNED CITIZEN
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