Sihlwayi’s actions contradict ANC’s stance on non-racialism
THE article “‘No whites, please’ – MEC” (Saturday Dispatch November 7 ) refers: The racism of ANC MEC Nancy Sihlwayi, in segregating youth on the basis of race, exposes the ANC as an organisation that is not working for a non-racial future for South Africa.
Sihlwayi’s instruction to exclude white children from a government youth event is nothing but pure racism.
As MEC for social development, Sihlwayi has shown that given the chance, the ANC will decide which races can and cannot access opportunities. This is a divisive and separatist tactic that has no place in the South Africa of today.
The ANC has truly changed since the days of Nelson Mandela.
Today the ANC is a party of self-service and racial divisiveness. The DA challenges the ANC in the Eastern Cape to distance itself from this racism immediately – or else to be seen to support racism. There is no place for racial segregation 21 years into our democratic nation. — Veliswa Mvenya
Metro’s squalid state
WITH the festive season fast approaching, we all look forward to meeting up with family and friends but, once again, we will be ashamed of our squalid city and just how it has regressed.
No wonder BCM has come last in a survey conducted by the South African Customer Services, a ranking of 47 compared to last year’s figure of 51 in the same survey.
Compare this to Cape Town’s rating of 71.9 which is the highest in the country (Daily Dispatch 7 November).
But this is understandable, as Cape Town is controlled by the DA.
Gonubie is rapidly turning into a refuse dump because BCM has failed to renew a contract for the use of a nearby ‘tip’ which has been used by local gardeners and garden cleaning services for decades.
There appears to be no progress in this regard and the area near the local golf course is rapidly becoming a favourite dumping site.
Our potholed roads are only worsening, although a few roads have been attended to. Pavements along the main road where old water pipes have been replaced have not been retarred and are a danger to both pedestrians and vehicles.
Streets are generally dirty and grass alongside pavements uncut.
Most municipal projects are never properly finalised and are half-completed.
I was expecting more from our new executive mayor, who appears to be a reasonable man, but in this cauldron of ANC infighting and unions calling the shots, he is nothing more than a figurehead.
At least the entrance to Gonubie is looking more sightly, thanks to the management of the local Quick Spar, who have had palm trees adjoining the main road trimmed and are generally maintaining the area. But visitors are warned to be on the lookout for potholed roads and dirty beaches, hardly an uncommon phenomenon in present day South Africa. — D Michau
Pay back the money
WHEN is Siyabulela Peter, Buffalo City Metro’s general manager for revenue management, going to be removed from his post and placed back in his old position of programme manager?
How many university bursaries can be financed from the extra pay he is receiving?
It takes two to tango, so surely he knew what he was doing when he applied for the job for which the job specifications were allegedly deliberately changed by the presently suspended city manager Andile Fani.
This was allegedly done as a favour and to accommodate Peter for not being in possession of the required qualifications. One cannot only charge Fani. This kind of corruption is not sustainable and must be nipped in the bud, otherwise the ANC will haemorrhage more support.
The ANC already faces losing the Nelson Mandela Metro in next year’s elections and it won’t be long before the electorate in East London will also wake up and the chickens of this corruption and maladministration will finally come home to roost.
It is time for Peter to pay back the money and for the ANC to get their house in order. Each rand that is stolen or wasted can go to our needy school and university students, who have a legitimate right to a free education and their liberation from economic servitude. — Naushad Omar