Unspent funds shock

THE article “EC Treasury’s R210-million blunder” (DD, February 3) has reference. It is disgusting to see the provincial treasury return unspent funds meant for infrastructure development in the province’s municipalities.

In Mnquma municipality alone there are a lot of infrastructure backlogs.

There are many projects that have failed due to maladministration and corruption.

Urban roads are riddled with potholes. Rural roads are in a state of disrepair.

Every day I travel between Butterworth and rural Centane – to Tafalofefe Hospital to be specific. The road is so horrible that our vehicles break down every day.

Each and every month we have to take our cars for the suspension and braking systems to be repaired. It is so bad on rainy days that we have to go back home because the road becomes impassable when it gets wet and it is very risky to drive on when it rains.

What of the learners who are left without teachers in many schools because of the state of the roads?

What of the patients who are supposed to be transported daily between Tafalofefe Hospital and East London? That road is really a health hazard. Somebody must do something about this. — L Nonxuba, Centane quarters, at R5 to R8 cheaper per kg than the local produced prices.

Retailers are forced to buy these cheap cuts and sell them on the market or repack them under their own brands or sell them via butcheries.

The consumers are therefore not aware of the quality or the origin of the chicken they are buying.

Local producers employ in excess of 500 000 workers, while importers employ maybe 100 staff. I would challenge any importers on how many jobs are being created by importing products.

If we are to create employment in South Africa, the local industry should be protected or we will end up as a net importer as happened in Zimbabwe.

What happened to our textile industry? It was killed by cheap Asian imports.

Let’s keep the farmers on the land and support locally produced products. — K Lauwrens, retired farmer, via e-mail Hare and called leaving countless messages, but finally I was advised to copy Ms Lennox on the string of e-mails.

She didn’t hesitate but answered me immediately and assisted me to register from the office without having to drive to Alice, queue and endure a day at the campus.

Another person I would like to acknowledge is Pumla Bokwe and Professor Willie Chinyamurindi. They have both been helpful and they go the extra mile to assist students.

Professor Chinyamurindi’s character, professionalism, patience and belief in his students is amazing. — LPS, Dimtown