The Rep 30 March 2018

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6 Tel: (045) 839-4040 Emergency: (A/H) 083-272-0955 ° Editorial: sonjar@tisoblackstar.co.za - advertising: charodinev@tisoblackstar.co.za THE REPRESENTATIVE 30 March 2018 EDITORIAL OPINION Fixing EMLM - the reality THE financial woes of the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) do not bode well for the area. That much is clear to everyone who lives here, and it seems that it has now become abundantly clear to the Eastern Cape government. While the residents of EMLM wait with bated breath to hear whether the provincial government and its local counterparts will come up with a lasting solution to the problems facing the embattled municipality, the spectre of power cuts by Eskom continue to loom large. As we indicate on the front page today, we may have had a reprieve in that such cuts will not happen in April, but May is just around the corner. What we need now, both in the municipality and in the country at large, is order and a systematic plan which will put the towns within the EMLM area back on track. Are there enough people willing and able to do so? Yes, absolutely. What they will need is a dedicated workforce and a plan to work towards – the latter which the provincial government will hopefully help to establish. If the lack of funds – and we are not speaking about ‘wa n t s ’ but ‘needs’ in terms of financial input in EMLM – continue to hamper service delivery, the outcome of this area will be dire. Businesses will withdraw and take their enterprises elsewhere and people will exit the towns in search of an area where their needs – both in terms of services and employment – will be met. A lack of power and water due to the inability to pump water will take its toll. The result will be a Komani which will be a shadow of what it was before – a virtual ghost town. If anything, the reality of the current situation facing EMLM should spur residents on to become involved via civic bodies and other structures in mooting and supporting the return of the area to being a well-run and efficient entity. It’s a job which is going to require a united effort. The politicians won’t save us SOUTH Africa emerged from a negotiated settlement. Can we say South Africa is a better place today than it was then? Could it have been better? Did the deals struck then hold the country back and stunt the complete emancipation of all its people? Could Mandela and company have struck a better deal for the victims of apartheid and economic exclusion? Were the BBBEEE and affirmative action laws as passed enough or did these simply give a veneer of change? It is tempting to say that things have changed. We now have one of the world’s best constitutions and have freedoms we could only dream of pre-1994. But has there been fundamental change? Has the passing of the bill to expropriate land without compensation taken us in the right direction or will it lead to chaos no one bargained for? We cannot continue with the skewed land ownership patterns we have t o d ay. The day we stop being used to seeing rows and rows of shacks in informal settlements and the day we stop being used to queues and queues of the unemployed standing on street corners will be the day we become serious about fundamentally changing the countr y. Are the political parties we have going to change things IN TOUCH ... with Phumelele P Hlati fundamentally, or are they just agents of superficial change? No political party will ever change this country fundamentally – political parties just do not work like that. An educated, informed, thinking and politically active populace is a danger to the political elite. Political parties love to usurp the right to think and act for themselves and for the rest of society to sit back and allow them to do things for them as they see fit. All they will do is to come every five years and pretend to listen and u n d e r st a n d , while all they want is to be given power to continue where they left of f. The answer is for the people to take their destiny into their own hands and demand what is rightfully theirs and not bow to the wishes of the ruling elite. Do I propagate chaos and a free-for-all? It depends what you understand by chaos. People must stop aiming for assimilation into the elite as there is not enough space for everyone up there. Organic solutions are desperately needed and so are the organic leaders. This country obtained democracy because of civil activism above anything else. We should rekindle that fire. Does this make you feel uncomfortable? If it does then you are part of the problem. FUN IN THE SUN: Visitors to the NG Church bazaar in Komani having a great time last Wednesday FACE 2 FA C E Question: What is your typical weekend like? Answer: A typical weekend involves going to church and spending time with my family. Q: What would you say to encourage the youth to be e n t r e p r e n e u r s? A: For an entrepreneur to survive, they must endure and seek to educate themselves. Q: What do you do to relax after a long day? A: I recently got married and going home to my wife gives me the greatest joy. Q: If you were asked by a radio presenter to play a song that would best describe South Africa, what would it be? A: In our current mood we are on the bandwagon of Send Me. As President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his inaugural speech, we are all on a positive pathway. We must be willing to put all hands on deck and work towards building this nation. VINCENT GQEBA YOUR VOICE ... vox pops on the street What do you think about ... AT H E N KO S I NGAKANA DO YOU think water restrictions should be reduced since we have received some rain in the past few weeks? The Rep intern Pilanathi Rasmeni took to the streets to find out. Vincent Gqeba from Mlungisi People are using hose pipes to irrigate their gardens instead of using buckets. It is unacceptable. Others leave the tap open and go to town. We should understand the reasons for water rest rictions. Athenkosi Ngakana from Victoria Pa r k It has been raining for almost two So let me follow in the footsteps of Mongameli and say “Thuma mina” N O LU B A B A LO NDABENI months. Water cuts are affecting my two nephews who play sport at school and when they get home, they cannot bath in the evening. Also, our housekeeper is unable to do her duties because of water restrictions. The municipality must make a plan and give us relief. Nolubabalo Ndabeni from Ezibeleni We are experiencing unannounced water cuts. At times, we go a whole week without water. It is affecting us negatively as students because we practise personal hygiene. At least the municipality must make a proper with iStore business regional account manager Evile Poswa XOLANI G X O WA Picture: SIMTEMBILE MGIDI (Send me). Q: Given a chance to fix one thing about Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, what would it be? A: The point of departure would be to go back and educate people on the man Enoch Mgijima – who he was and what he stood for, so that we can have an in-depth understanding of the man this municipality has been named after. He stood for the independence of black people – that we must not be tenants but landlords. If we could combine the municipal values with his values it could be a better place to live in. Q: What can you not leave the house without? A: My cellphone, wallet and my keys. Q: What are the three words that best describe you? A: I am shy, but in the same vein, I can also be outgoing and fun. BUNCANE LANGA schedule so that we can prepare for these circumstances. Xolani Gxowa from Ezibeleni. The municipality should come up with a way to collect rainwater and re-use it. Yo u ’ll find that we only have water in the mornings and afternoons and during the day we suffer a lot. Buncane Langa from Ezibeleni I think the municipality should stop the water restrictions. Sometimes we are unaware of the water cuts and it affects us negatively. I stay with an elderly person and we cannot cook or bath at times.
THE REPRESENTATIVE 30 March 2018 Tel: (045) 839-4040 Emergency: (A/H) 083-272-0955 ° Editorial: sonjar@tisoblackstar.co.za - advertising: charodinev@tisoblackstar.co.za 7 IN OUR POST BAG 24 Prince Alfred Street, Queenstown or sonjar@tisoblackstar.co.za or fax (045) 839-4059 Letters must be accompanied by the name and address of the author. A pseudonym should be supplied where necessary. The editor reserves the rights to choose and edit letters for publication. Defamatory and slanderous letters will not be considered. Letters have to be brief and to the point due to space restrictions. Please limit letters to 250 words or less Illegal car washers in Alexandra Road FED UP of Komani writes: I believe our municipality has no by-laws at present. In the past, when there were such things, it was illegal to wash a car in the street, even one’s own car. Now we have a number of people washing cars in the street as a business. The problem is that they have all the car doors open with music playing at full volume. Each car playing different music, up to six at a time. Then there is the mess. All of the rubbish which they remove from the cars is left lying in the gutters, together with the soapy water which they have used, which has been stolen from adjacent properties. This situation has now become intolerable and totally unacceptable. It has also resulted in potential buyers in the area changing their minds and a devaluation of properties as a result. In a report on the subject in The Rep recently, the car washers stated that if the municipality wanted them to move they must be provided with an alternative venue. What gives them who are there illegally the right to make such a demand? They should be given notice to move, failing which the SAPS should be called in to remove them. This noise and litter have been allowed to go on for too long. CHILD’S PLAY: Children had a great time on the slide at the NG Church bazaar in Komani last week Picture: SIMTEMBILE MGIDI Sale of meat on streets needs to be regulated HEALTHY of Komani writes: I find it strange that some people react negatively to the Chris Hani District Municipality’s attempts to clear the streets of people selling meat illegally. Surely, if South Africa is a law-abiding country, this should be praised? The aim is not to do anyone out of a living but to stop a dangerous practice. Would the people so enthusiastically supporting the sale of raw meat on the streets feel the same if someone they love SOCIETY contracts a terrible disease or even dies as a result? The reality is that raw meat is – and should be – subject to health regulations. The sale of it should be too and the aim is not to be mean or to limit job opportunities. The aim is to ensure health standards and to protect the very people who moan about it so vocally. Rather look for alternative solutions on how to help these hawkers, but don’t slam the district municipality for doing its job. SNIPPETS From birthdays to anniversaries to achievements to notices ... Share your information with us on sonjar@tisoblackstar.co.za or fax (045) 839-4059 B I RT H D AY wishes are extended to Arenza van Staden (today), Damian McKaskill (April 1), Michelle Henson (April 2), Jason Strydom (April 4), Esther Smit (April 6), Shane Brody and Sam Breetzke (April 7), Jo Love, Annatjie Castles and Ernest Littleford (April 8), Eugene Adolph, Eulencia Winnaar and Nathan Roux (April 9), Sipho Hokwana (April 10), Cheryl Hammill, Mandy Doyle and Avo Norawana (April 11), Sarah Lee Frewen, Francois de Villiers and Celisha Morrison (April 12) and Mzolisi Gwantshu, Margolet Wege and Carol Scharneck (April 14). BEL ATED birthday wishes to Ubukho Peter (March 26). WEDDING anniversary wishes go to Grant and Vicki du Preez on April 22. WEDDING bells rang at the Hogsback for Marc Bradley and Nicolette Venter last weekend. C o n g r at u l at i o n s ! WISHES for better health to Dawie Kernekamp, who is recovering from surgery. CONGRATULATIONS to Dorian, son of Cliff and Marlene Larter, who is presently teaching at Maritzburg College, and who has been appointed deputy headmaster of Cowan House. His wife, Myrna (nee Jerrard) teaches at Epworth. CONDOLENCES to the family and friends of the late Conrad Redcliffe, Nogesile Gqoko, Xolela Klaas, Notyokolozi Sinyada and Ntombizanele V i n j wa .
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