I write this letter to you out of sheer desperation and not in search of a ‘silver bullet’ in order to be able to fix the ailing water supplier Ugu.
Rather in a manner to use your medium as a conduit to let the long suffering residents of the beautiful coastline know, that the DA, the Democratic Alliance councillors are doing all we can to bring water back.
This calls for us to be on duty from 04:30 to 23:00 every day, seven days a week.
To get sworn at, shouted at, abused, told we are useless, told we are not doing enough, bringing in our national and provincial leaders, etc., etc.
All the while, suffering the same hardships without water ourselves as contrary to popular belief we don’t get a special councillor’s supply.
Our own families suffering the same indignation of having to relieve themselves in their gardens, and watching our own 79-year-old parents stand in the same queues as everyone else for water.
This, dear editor, is not the part that astounds me.
The part that astounds me is that the community’s anger is aimed at us, the Democratic Alliance, not the African National Congress, or the officials paid to do a job.
It is only the few DA councillors trying to do our best to deliver water, ‘trespassing’ on municipal grounds so as to gather data to refute nonsensical press releases, and to try, just try, and find out what the chances are for any water to be restored.
South Coast, I have grown up here and lived here my whole life, I am the Caucus Chairman and am watching how systematically, 14 ‘warrior councillors’, your 14 Democratic Alliance councillors, are being broken down, spirits crushed and yet they continue to stand up, show up and face up to a ‘faceless enemy’ known as Ugu, who can no longer supply water to communities of the South Coast.
I call upon you South Coast communities, stop attacking your councillors, they are not to blame, and no they didn’t sign up for this!
Aim your anger at the ones that deserve this, the ones that approved a R32 million construction for their offices in Oslo Beach instead of repairs to infrastructure.
Aim your anger at the ones that are paid to do a job, aim your anger at those that have financially hollowed out Ugu and benefitted from corrupt practices.
Aim your anger at those tasked to stop and prevent this and didn’t, aim your anger at those that sit in provincial and national departments that refuse to step in and resolve this.
Aim your anger at all of these people that have either contributed towards the current situation or have the power to reverse it but won’t.
Don’t, however, aim your anger at the fearless 14 DA councillors doing everything that they can to bring some sort of relief to communities by delivering water, information or even just hope.
I cannot being to explain the toll these tasks are taking on them!
CLLR LEON GARBADE
RNM Democratic Alliance Caucus Chairman Ward 12
HAVE YOUR SAY
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