A hopeless mess

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A hopeless mess
Some weeks ago Kormorant noticed, not without some
satisfaction, that there seemed to be some progress in the much
vaunted turn-around strategy for the municipality. We thought
that the administrator that was appointed by the premier was
perhaps getting his ducks in a row. He announced that he had
suspended some officials that were accused of corruption and
that he appointed somebody with intimate knowledge of the
sewage system to get it operational again. And that money would
be secured to effect the essential repair and maintenance
expenses.
But, as we have feared initially, the terms in which the
bureaucrats measure success appear to be not what happens on
ground level. Roads disintegrate, sewage pumps break down all
over the municipality, millions of litres of raw sewage keep on
flowing into the dam and river and officials just shrug their
shoulders and say that there is no money for maintenance. But
there is enough money for sports festivals and strategic planning
sessions at luxurious resorts. And the administrator’s claim to
success is that he is holding meetings with all stakeholders.
Where are our priorities?
Meetings don’t repair roads or replace defective sewage pumps.
It is about time the administrator shows the ratepayers that he
really is here to get the municipality out of its mess - not simply to
hold a couple of meetings, make a few noises and pocket a
packet before riding off into the sunset, leaving the municipality in
same mess it was before, or worse.
Meld dit aan
Die vergiftiging van honde blyk ‘n seisoenale verskynsel in die
meeste woongebiede te wees. Maar dit sou ‘n fout wees om dit
bloot as ‘n bedreiging vir troeteldiere te sien. Dit is nie. Dit is deel
van die skering en inslag van die misdadigheid in die land en nie
bloot ‘n kwessie van iemand wat nie van honde hou nie.
Die polisie is versigtig om nie kategories te stel dat die
vergiftiging van honde ‘n voorspel tot inbraak of huisroof is nie,
maar daar kan min twyfel wees dat dit wel is. Selfs as die perseel
waar die honde vergiftig word nie die teiken is nie, kan dit wees
20 May 2010
http://www.kormorant.co.za/2010/05May/20May/Editorial.htm
Page 1 of 2
2010/05/26

Hartbeespoort Dam News
dat ‘n naasliggende perseel die teiken is. Skurke hou nie van
honde nie, veral nie in die gebied waar hulle bedrywig is nie. Die
gif is goedkoop en kan feitlik by enige straatmark gekoop word.
Dit is ondenkbaar dat mense nie by die polisie aanmeld as hulle
honde vergiftig word nie. Die vergiftiging van honde is nie ‘n
siviele saak nie - dit is ‘n kriminele saak en ‘n sekere aanduiding
van erger kriminele aktiwiteite wat beplan word. Dit is dus
noodsaaklik dat inwoners die polisie in kennis stel as so-iets met
hulle diere gebeur. Dit is ‘n vroeë waarskuwing van nog misdaad
wat aan die kom is en elkeen is dit aan die gemeenskap
verskuldig om hierdie waarskuwing ernstig op te neem. Om dit te
verswyg maak jou medepligtig aan die misdaad wat uiteindelik
gepleeg word - hetsy teen jouself of teen jou bure.
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http://www.kormorant.co.za/2010/05May/20May/Editorial.htm
Page 2 of 2
2010/05/26