Office takes its time
I CAN sympathise with the frustration expressed by Petrus Mokwajana in his letter about the Office of the Public Protector (OPP) and its failure to take up his complaint in October.
But I’m not so sure about his claims that the OPP does not help ordinary members of the public and that they are biased towards the ANC. After all, I’m simply an ordinary member of the public and although my complaint is only against provincial and local government it also reflects very badly on the controlling DA, since it stems from alleged deliberate maladministration intended to benefit former DA kingpin Theuns Botha.
Nevertheless, the Office of the Public Protector has formally acknowledged my complaint, case number 7/2015945/16 has been allocated and highly-trained specialists have been mandated to investigate. As further proof of the Public Protector’s efficacy, even on a DA-sensitive matter such as this, I hereby make a solemn promise to supply the Cape Times with full details of the outcome.
Exactly when that will be is, I’m afraid, a rather different story. I filed my complaint on November 4, 2014, which is now knocking on for twoand-a-half years ago. In all that time I haven’t heard a single word from the OPP either about difficulties or about progress, neither have I been asked one solitary question by way of follow-up. My latest enquiry, copied to four people three months ago on November 7, 2016 remains unanswered.
Neither is it a complex matter: a public road through MEC Botha’s land which should be at least 6.6 metres wide has degenerated into a single-carriageway dirt track of about 3m width.
Since this is the only way in and out of my home it is a daily inconvenience and a serious potential hazard; it needs just one breakdown and we are completely cut off, even from emergency services. Consequently, the value of my land is reduced while the value of MEC Botha’s land is increased.
The saga was first mentioned in this newspaper in my opinion piece on May 29, 2015 and in my subsequent letters on September 21, 2015 and December 16, 2016. I’ve also posted video clips (www. ppf.co.za – “service delivery”) so that the Public Protector and anyone else who’s er… “interested” can see the problem for themselves. To make it still easier I’m not asking for an explanation or apology for the runaround I’ve been given over the past six or seven years or for the 118 emails exchanged with government since I first enquired in 2010.
Neither have I asked that the government employees involved be brought to account; I just want the road fixed. For news of the OPP’s progress watch this space – but don’t hold your breath.