The Rep 26 March 2021

6 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 26 March 2021 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
Act, no
matter what
There is always a question one
asks: “Why now, why start with
me, what about the others
before me?” I suppose this is a
very natural thing to ask when
you observe many wrong things
being done by others and poor
behaviour being exhibited by
others and nothing of any
consequence happens to them.
This also becomes a very
n a t u ra l question when the
person or persons taking the
action against you also have a
cloud hanging over them, which
might not have been tested.
With impending elections
there is also the ever-present
suspicion that certain actions
are not taken with pure
intentions but with an eye firmly
on the leadership battles ahead.
Those reservations are expected
and are par for the course, but
that does not necessarily always
have to be true.
The question then becomes
— when is the right time to act
against wrongdoing? Does it
matter whether the person or
persons taking the actions are in
some way tainted, even though
nothing yet has been concretely
p r ove n ? Should we then discard
any action taken by those
people just because there are
rumours swirling around them?
You might be wondering
what I am talking about. Let me
lay it out for you.
The Eastern Cape ANC
provincial executive committee
has announced a slew of
suspensions and disciplinary
measures against very senior
members of its structures.
Provincial ANC secretary
Lulama Ngcukaitobi explained:
“The PEC has decided to invoke
the ANC constitution 25.70”,
and they sent two of the
regional leaders who had
refused to step aside to the
integrity committee and had
their roles in the organisations
halted.
In total there are more than
25 people affected by these
IN TOUCH
Phumelele P Hlati
actions taken by the PEC. It is
quite clear that the PEC, led by
the embattled provincial chair
and premier Oscar Mabuyane,
has gone for broke by disturbing
the hornet’s nest.
The questions that I posed at
the beginning are now
becoming a song by many
people and those who support
these individuals.
I have this view on the
matter and many like it. There is
no right or wrong time to do
something — what is wrong is
wrong, no matter who is saying
it. That in the past the PEC or
any other ANC structure failed
to act on similar issues does not
mean that when they do they
are incorrect. They have to start
s o m e wh e r e .
I am not privy to their
intentions, whether nefarious or
good, so I will only concentrate
on the action itself. Are these
suspensions and other actions in
line with the ANC constitution?
If the answer is yes, then what is
the issue? If down the line some
who have been part of the group
that took these decisions get
implicated in something similar
then the ANC must act against
them with similar vigour.
For me it is as simple as that,
and I have no time for any
conspiracy theories about the
impending leadership contests.
Act and act now, I say. Bravo
to the PEC for not only talking
the talk, but for walking the
walk too.
SOCIETY SNIPPETS
From birthdays to anniversaries to achievements to notices ...
Share your information with us:
mjekulal@arena.africa or fax (045) 839-4059
Happy birthday wishes are
extended to Andy Jerrard, Jaco
Goosen, Kathy Helm and
Lourinda Richter (March 26), Sam
Millar, Peet van der Walt, Lynne
Terblanche, Chante Adonis and
Chantel Brody (March 27),
Graham Pohlmann, Dylan Jacobs,
Kayla Bekker, Val Green and
Mapaseka Pelesa (March 28),
Dierdre Schwartz, Amelia Martin,
Charlene de Villiers, Corne van
Heerden, Ed Clark, Malvin
Charasika, Juan van der Walt and
Herman Venter (March 30),
Hanneke Coetzee (March 29),
Ronel Taylor, Claudia Solomon,
Marlene Siloan, Karin du Preez,
Jeanna Bowes and Lynne de Waal
(March 31), Shania Mulder, Alroy
Kriedemann, Denise Wagenaar,
Riana de Lange (April 1), Michelle
Henson, Lindy McKerry (April 2),
Jarred Scharneck, Natasha
Strdyom and Betsie Pretorius
(April 3), Ernest Dowling, Jason
Strydom and Kim Stone (April 4),
Tamryn Henning, Sade Solomon,
Muffet Hartley and Lyle
Sonemann (April 5), Zane Lee,
Kay-Lee Mentoor and Zane Lee
(April 6), Marie-Louise Hellstrom,
Nicole Enslin, Sam Breetzke,
Beryl Hughes, Shane Brody,
Michael Edkins and Toy Mulder
(April 7), Ernest Littleford, Jo Love,
Marlene Serfontein, Dave
Mitchell, Erlene Westerberg and
Emily Tromp (April 8), Riaan
Verster, Bev Jacobsen and Eugene
Pautz (April 9).
Tomorrow marks exactly one year
since lockdown was first imposed
as a result of Covid-19. Isolation
has certainly affected different
people in different ways - some
decidedly negative such as
creating feelings of loneliness,
being left out and breaking down
friendships and social life as we
enjoyed it. On the other hand it
has taught some people much
about being self-supporting,
creating one's own entertainment
and brought some parents and
children closer together. With talk
of Covid being around for several
more phases and a time period of
three to five years mentioned, one
wonders if we will ever get back to
‘normal’ as it used to be... or will
we have forgotten what ‘normal’ is
by that time?
Condolences are extended to the
families and friends of Penny
Whitehead, Robdyn Cloete,
Zongezile Badiwe, Ntombekaya
Lufele, Nontutuzelo Leeuw,
Ntombekhayo Tandeki, Beauty
Ngece, Ursula du Plessis,
Nzimeni Mthiyana, Phumelele
Ramncwana, Mlandeli
Mvakwentab, Mlandeli
Mvakwentaba and Maxon
M j i k wa .
IN OUR POSTBAG
KOMANI WEATHER
The ‘going into autumn’
weather seems set to continue
this weekend, with cooler
overnight temperatures, while
the days are warm and pleasant.
On Friday, the temperature
will vary between 12 and 27°C,
though it will be partly cloudy.
There will be a gentle breeze
- an ideal day for a relaxing
outdoor family meal.
Saturday will dawn at just
9°C and it will be overcast with
scattered thundershowers,
reaching a maximum of 24°C.
In spite of that, the humidity will
be high.
After a coolish start of 8°C
on Sunday, the temperature will
peak at 22°C. It will be partly
cloudy and the humidity will
still be a bit raised, but there will
be a moderate breeze.
To close off the weekend,
M o n d ay ’s minimum
temperature will be 11°C and
the maximum 27°C. It will be
cloudy but no moisture is
forecast and the wind will be
gentle. - w w w. a c c u w e a t h e r. c o . z a
YO U R VOICE opinions on the street
What do you think about …
S I K H O N AT H I
S I WA N A
SA commemorated
Human Rights Day this
week, and The Rep
reporter Zintle Bobelo
took to the streets to ask
people what the day
meant to them.
SIKHONATHI SIWANA
from Komani
It reminds me of how
black people were
treated in the apartheid
era. It must be celebrated
because people fought
for human rights.
MOHAMED ASIF
MUSHI
I had to spend the day
at work but I think
everyone should be out
somewhere celebrating
the day and not be at
wo r k .
MOHAMED ASIF
MUSHI
from Sandringham
Human rights belong to
all of us because we are
all human. They embody
key values in society.
They are a form of
protection to us.
MONIQUE
SCHOEMAN
M O N I QU E
SCHOEMAN
from Sterkstroom
It means e ve r y b o dy
should be treated fairly
and equally because no
one is better than the
o t h e r.
L U YA N DA
M AG X I D O L O
from Komani
It is a day of recognising
people's rights as they
are the foundation of
their freedom. We have
L U YA N D A
MAGXIDOLO
the right to life, privacy,
education, sanitation,
housing and all the other
rights that are enshrined
in the constitution.
They are important
because it means once
people come to an
understanding that we
have rights, they will start
to attach value to one's
life and respect and
know we are all human
beings who deserve to be
treated as such.
They need to be
XOLANI
GUGA
graphic © liudmyla pushnova / 123RF.com
24 Prince Alfred Street, Queenstown or mjekulal@therep.co.za or fax (045) 8 3 9 - 4 0 59
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Conserve region's once rich natural habitat
Small towns like Komani and
Lady Frere have many villages
around them, stretching sparsely
below high mountains with
dense natural forests. What
beauty. Indeed we are rich!
The forests on our mountains
used to have trees and shrubs
that had medicinal value to us.
Our forefathers taught us
this. They were medicinal in
that they cured minor illnesses.
Today, many of those trees
such as umkhwenkwe are no
more. Are they extinct? If not,
are they protected elsewhere in
some reserve?
Our small areas need to have
reserves and conservationists.
If we do not protect our
natural species, smugglers and
foreigners will remove them and
sell them in another form to us.
Ngamayeza ke lawo.
Let us wake up, my rural and
peri-urbanists.
ALFRED ZANEMVULA
M AG AT YA
Political interference ruining
area, Enoch Mgijima legacy
When I received the news that
Lukhanji, Nkwanca and
Tsolwana municipalities would
merge and be renamed Enoch
Mgijima, I was so excited that
the legacy of the prophet would
be lived.
I recall when former
executive mayor, L Gunuza
promised the family and Church
of God leadership that they
were committing themselves to
good governance, efficient and
effective service delivery.
By doing that, they would
uphold the name of the prophet,
a founding leader of the Church
of God and Saints of Christ in
SA.
However, the first thing that
made me sceptical about the
municipality was its frequent
change of political leadership,
Gubula being the third mayor
within five years.
I also noticed that the troika
is not speaking with one voice.
Councillors are divided, with
those loyal to Ebden Street and
others loyal to the sub-region.
If this is the situation, how
were they going to play an
oversight role and give political
direction?
I also noticed there is no
differentiation between the
ANC as a political party and
ANC in governance - hence a
lot of interference by the ANC
leadership in the running of the
m u n i c i p a l i t y.
To eliminate this, the ANC
must organise a workshop to
clearly define the roles of
political principals and
deployees in governance. Then
create sound working relations
between the political head and
administrative head.
The two are inseparable and
must complement one another.
The above has resulted in the
embarrassing situation we find
ourselves in. Therefore, the first
thing to do is to close ranks.
Administrators must play
their implementation role and
politicians their oversight one.
The Batho principles are just
ornaments. There is no value for
money. If you drive through Dr
Ntlabathi Road in Ezibeleni,
named after a prominent doctor
in the municipality, the road has
just been sealed, but potholes
are emerging because of shoddy
work. Then Fikile Gwadana
Drive, named after a political
activist, was done less than two
weeks ago and has returned to
the swimming pools that made
it very difficult for drivers.
The business community is
trying to clean the area, but if
the community service
directorate has no strategic plan
to see that the area remains
clean, this is a futile exercise.
If municipal by-laws were
applied, it would eliminate the
open space salons operating in
Cathcart Road. By letting this
continue, you are exposing the
council to litigation, by failing to
uphold the constitution.
If the directorate of
community service is serious
about the municipality’s
obligation to provide a clean
and safe environment, as
prescribed by the constitution, a
plan must be in place on how to
create and sustain it.
Lastly, my heartfelt plea to
the mayor, revive the Mayoral
Business Forum for the
development of the town and
you will not regret it.
“It always seems impossible
until it is done.” (Nelson
Mandela, 2001)
MZWABANTU DAPULA
commemorated so they
become a constant
reminder that we are all
human beings with
inalienable rights.
XOLANI GUGA
from Komani
During apartheid we
were restricted from a lot
of things. We attained
democracy and we can
see change from how
things were in the past.
The day means a lot
to me.