THERE are so many drips out there at the moment that the Herald is now thinking of supplying its journalists with plungers and other thingies that plumbers use.
This in addition to the usual tools-of-the-trade like cameras, notebooks, pens and bulletproof vests.
You see, Ugu Municipality’s ‘help line’ seems to be, well… somewhat ‘unhelpful’. (This problem might be solved now.)
So, irate residents with water problems kept phoning us: “I’VE GOT NO WATER!!! &@%$! (censored) UGU DOESN’T ANSWER ITS COMPLAINTS LINE. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT!!!”
(Note: The capital letters are to emphasise that there is often shouting involved.)
This past weekend was so bad that our duty reporter opted to turn off his office cellphone. (Naughty boy!)
This resulted in our getting it in the neck on Monday morning as well, once our switchboard was functional again.
“Not only can’t we get through to Ugu over a weekend, now we can’t get through to the Herald to complain about them either,” said one irate caller. “Do your job!”
(Note: The caller had calmed down a bit at this late stage, but was still irate.)
For those who don’t know, the Herald offices are closed at night and weekends, like many other businesses which don’t sell beer, hotdogs, hamburgers, ice creams and such. But our small band of journalists do take it in turns to be ‘on call’ in case of emergencies. This number is advertised weekly in the newspaper.
However, unless there is a beautiful photograph to be taken of a burst pipe gushing water into the sky while lovely women dance around in wet T-shirts, there’s not much our duty reporter can do on the spur of the moment to get your water turned back on.
If you can’t get through to Ugu at a weekend, then neither can we.
Our journalists are also not yet trained to fix burst pipes and such, but we are working on that.
We will… and do… report the problems ad nauseam in the Herald, online and on our social media platforms in the hope that Ugu gets the message that a large portion of often thirsty, smelly residents are now totally p….ed off.
Excuse the pun, but so far the bad publicity seems to flow like water off a duck’s back, until now.
Suddenly, eureka! Ugu came to the party this week and now promises the pipes-of-bureaucracy have been unclogged at last.
Nevertheless, like Ugu does with its many burst pipes, we’ll keep plugging away on your behalf if the promises prove to be hollow.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
For news straight to your phone, add us on BBM 58F3D7A7 or WhatsApp 082 421 6033
