Help us keep our kids off the streets

YOU KNOW it’s election time again when you see the politicians “take to the road” canvassing for votes.

This is also the time when neglected constituencies highlight the non- delivery of services either through protests (violent or peaceful), or, for those who have the means, through the print or electronic media.

I will use the latter as it is available at the local library, is less destructive and it appears that politicians read the SMS column and Cape Points.

I reside in Pelican Park extension 1,2 & 3, where we have noticed the fluctuations of different election periods in the 20-year history of democracy. Although this area was demarcated for the Indian community under the apartheid government, this area has from the onset had a mixture of all the communities due to racial inter-marriage.

There is a strong atmosphere of community involvement among individuals within in the community, be it in sport, the neighbourhood watch, the ratepayers association, activities for the youth, religious activities and so on.

However, the efforts are somewhat curtailed due to the lack of or the slow assistance by the city (current and previous). I was mainly involved in organising sporting activities, particularly soccer and cricket for the youth.

We were promised on many occasions a decent sportsfield, from the very inception of this area more than 30 years ago.

Many politicians representing the different major political parties have come and gone or passed-on but have not honoured their promises.

Like many areas on the Cape Flats, we have also seen youth from decent families being destroyed by drugs and our efforts to prevent this through sporting activities have been curtailed by those in power who have not fulfilled their promises.

We have seen during every election the sliding board at Mossie Street Play Parks being removed and painted a different colour and then returned, being driven through the area on a trailer on a weekend so that all the residents who are at home on a Saturday can to see that the “city works for you”.

We have had meetings over the years with the different councillors, politicians and senior officials of the different city departments to assist us in upgrading the open field next to the play park.

This field was allocated as a kickabout facility for the youngsters in the area to play ball games such as soccer, rugby and cricket.

We also suggested a basket ball/netball court or cricket nets similar to those in areas like Hanover Park, Manenberg and Khayelitsha.

We need to create activities for the teenagers as this is the age where the children are sidetracked and influenced in the wrong direction.

This has now become more urgent as the area is being expanded to include 5 000 more houses.

I hope and pray that somebody in power is willing to assist us.