Not what ratepayers want
If the R200m deal struck with Samwu by the metro leadership to end the strike that has crippled our city for the past three weeks is to come from those who pay rates, then the ratepayers should have the majority say on how their hardearned money is spent by those in authority.
I bet the vast majority would say they do not want their money spent on parties, horse-races and concerts; municipal sporting events for councillors and officials, funding one boxing promoter as opposed to developing facilities for others to excel in the sport, and funding a PSL soccer team that is already funded by Nelson Mandela Municipality and Safa.
They would not agree to their money being spent on copious amounts of food for officials and councillors; an excessive number of body guards for the mayor, and out-of-town venues for workshops and lekgotlas (the cost of which is increased by travelling allowances for those who attend).
They certainly would not want their money spent on allowing East London-based councillors the opportunity to stay in hotels (often with members of their families) in the city while attending workshops at local venues either!
They would not want their money spent on talkshops that achieve nothing to enhance service delivery, and all the branding and advertising and hiring of expensive venues that goes with these events.
Ratepayers have the right to insist that their money goes on actual service delivery that would improve the lives of all living in the Metro: cleaning the city, fixing failing infrastructure (potholes, stormwater systems, sewage, water and electricity supply) and making the Metro attractive for investors to come and help us create much-needed employment.
All residents deserve better and we cannot accept that our hardearned money in a difficult economic climate is taken for granted and squandered by the Metro leadership.
Name supplied Bonnie Doon
City held to ransom
Thanks to our incompetent and overpaid Buffalo City municipal officials, the honest, law-abiding ratepayer is once again held to ransom by a few greedy individuals bent on destroying this once lovely and well-run city.
It seems officials are more concerned with spending time arguing about squandering millions of rand of ratepayers’ money on boxing tournaments and music festivals than a back-up plan to employ casual labour to collect garbage and keep the city running while a strike is on. Concerned Ratepayer Nahoon
Workshops a waste
The report of our councillors workshopping at the Mpekweni Beach resort made one sit back and think a bit.
Why on earth can this workshopping not be done right here in East London at the city hall? It was built for this purpose. It is a waste of the completely overburdened ratepayers’ money.
As an exemplary example for the councillors to heed, here is what one sports club did this year for their Christmas celebration.
They used their own clubhouse, had pizza slices and icecream and baked pudding for dessert.
I heard that a great time was had by all.
That is how to economise.
Lee Hartley Gonubie
Age of entitlement
Some 10 years ago when East London had a similar problem with municipal employees going on strike and rubbish piled up, I took to burning it in the middle of my garden, choosing a day with no wind and making sure I had the hose handy if it flared up.
Out of two bags of rubbish one is only left with a couple of tin cans.
The overtime bill to be paid to clean up the town when the strike ends will be huge.
I feel that when we have millions of young people desperate for a job, if people don’t appreciate what they have, they should be fired and people who will appreciate a regular salary employed in their place.
You earn the right to your job; you don’t have a job by rights.
The “age of entitlement” doesn’t really exist, as we will find out when the state is bankrupt.
David Edwards, Stirling
Note to Writers
Ratepayers have the right to insist that their money goes on actual service delivery that would improve the lives of all living in the Metro