MEC must stick to his resolve over greedy BCM pay rises

WHOEVER approved the graduation of BCM to metro status seriously needs a head check. Why must these councillors earn salaries that they do not deserve?

This irregular expenditure is ridiculous and undermines the basic needs of taxpayers.

For example, in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, it is glaringly obvious why they are a metro municipality. Motherwell is a fairly new township but all their streets have names and are surfaced with tar.

That cannot be said about Mdantsane (the second biggest township in South Africa). Sisa Dukashe Stadium has had power failures during important events.

The electricity supply in the city needs to be upgraded.

We have fought tirelessly against economic exploitation and we are now faced with exactly the same. With great respect, I still want to hear or be shown the job scope of councillors.

Forcing the city manager to pay councillors amounts to robbery and stealing taxpayers’ money. Mlibo Qoboshiyane (MEC for local government and traditional affairs) please keep your foot down for the benefit and interest of the poor people of the city. — Ntsikelelo Manyisane, East London

AS A young person who has been staying in this municipal area for some time, I am disturbed by the decision by the council and municipal manager to raise councillors’ salaries without the approval of the MEC for local government and traditional affairs.

For years this municipality has been characterised by many challenges that have led to it failing to deliver services to the poorest of the poor, many of whom do not have sanitation.

They have poor health facilities and other social needs, and no clean water, but the council decided to spend R12-million rand on their own salaries.

The ANC must deal with the opportunistic tendencies among its own councillors, who claim to represent the poor. These particular egotists must listen and they must dance for their own music (work for their money). — Noel Witbooi, East London

WHICH ways are open to citizens of BCM if we do not want to pay annual service charge and rate increases that are way above the inflation rate?

Every year we read about “missing” funds, “unexplained expenditure” and wasted money. When is this going to stop?

We should only pay increased rates and taxes once BCM has proved, by clean audits, that they are able to control a budget and can spend responsibly.

Remember, we are their customers but they seem to think we are a gravy train!

Based on normal company principles, BCM should have gone bankrupt a long time ago, because nobody would do business with a failure like this. I say to BCM, carry on wasting and misspending money but do not increase your rates while you do this. I consider it fair to pay nothing for nothing.

Every year they promise to tackle this, that and the other, but in the end another R500-million remains unspent and R2-billion carries on vanishing – yet all those worthy people on the council grant themselves huge increases. — Gerd Kopanski, Kwelera SOUTH Africa’s constitution, which intended to transform the lives of formerly disadvantaged communities that had been subjected to gross violation of human rights, is one of the best. The Bill of Rights emphasises human dignity, the right to life and privacy as some of the values that should be respected. It is disturbing to learn from the media on a daily basis how grossly these rights are violated. In a recently reported series of rapes, some of the victims were young people who had expected to be nurtured and prepared for good futures.

What happened to the concept of ubuntu? According to our constitution, everyone has a right to life and yet the killing of human beings by others is escalating.

It is my view that the Human Rights Commission should play a significant role in educating people about human rights.

Measures should also be taken to ensure that the contents of the constitution are made accessible to all, including the illiterate.

Education should not only be free but it should be compulsory that no children should leave school without a skill. This will reduce the number of criminals as more people will be skilled and have something to do. It is easy for idle youth to kill, rape and rob. — Nyameko Mtyingili, Lady Frere THIS week I had to go to Home Affairs to renew my passport. I absolutely dreaded it as the experience I had last time I had to do this was not something I wanted to repeat.

Added to the anxiety about the department itself, I dreaded parking in that lot as there always seemed to be inherent danger there.

Well, what a welcome surprise! Not only was the car guard obviously a good man who did not ask for anything but took a couple of rand for my meter (I gave him a good tip when I got out), but when I began my application with the young woman who was on duty at the passport counter, after only a short wait I was dealt with quickly, efficiently and, most important of all, with a cheerful and helpful attitude!

Then from that counter to the next office, same treatment – kind, decent, efficient, and on to the fingerprint man (my fingerprints no longer scan well being a bit advanced in age) which was handled so quickly and efficiently that I hardly had time to draw a breath.

What can I say, except “thank you, Department of Home Affairs, East London”.

Now, if only the pothole crew could get their act into gear.

If anyone is looking and cannot find me, you could peer over the edge of one of the potholes in Smith Street and yell down – if you get a response it is probably me! — Rose Warren, via e-mail THE BCM official who said the bus shelter in Pearce Street would be removed by Thursday was very clever as he did not state which Thursday. Two Thursdays have passed since his letter and the bus shelter still stands.

By not stating a specific date, it could mean any Thursday from now till the end of time. Very, very clever! But, then again, this can be expected of BCM. — Errol Scheepers, Berea