Look beyond surface

ALDERMAN JP Smith’s reply to articles and responses regarding the crushing of amaphelas has reference (Cape Times, September 10).

The response provided by JP Smith clarifies the application of the law, but also comes across less than helpful in understanding the underlying problems and why the amaphel as exist.

They fulfil a gap in the market that public transport authorities have not met.

There does not appear to be empathy in his statement, nor big-picture insight into the reasons why someone had to resort to using an unsafe, unreliable, “second-rate vehicle and second-rate safety” to eke out a living by carting people around from point A to B at all hours, exposed to all kind of risk and dangers.

Did it ever occur to him that the owner of that vehicle chose a livelihood as a servant of the people over a life of hard criminal behaviour? That perhaps a chauffeur of the people was more dignified and empowering than any of the other options available at the time?

Ask yourself why someone would leave their vehicle – a means of putting food on the table – parked, at the impound, without staking their claim to it. They are either broke or in fear.

The big-stick approach, throwing around legislation and casting aside legitimate concerns, does not begin to offer solutions.

Nobody likes to be the executioner, but we understand the he has a job to do. I just wonder whether there is also a commitment to tackle the underlying reasons behind the need for amaphelas in the first instance, and whether we are not missing an empowerment opportunity at a much larger scale.