What other bigwigs enjoy free electricity?
TO the chagrin of many, in a recent letter I labelled Nelson Mandela Bay Metro mayor Danny Jordaan a “man of honour” (“Do honourable thing and resign”, June 11). I have to apologise, for Jordaan is anything but.
In my defence, this was before the revelation that he failed to pay his municipal electricity bill, not for a week or a month, but seven years.
Although bred from good stock, he is obviously no chip off the old block.
The least I expected was for Jordaan to know right from wrong. I naively imagined his conscience would lead him to quit in the wake of the 2010 World Cup bribery scandal to which he is inextricably linked.
Now the shock that life went on as normal in his luxury Summerstrand household while the family enjoyed free electricity. Only a moron will believe the disingenuous excuse about a faulty electricity meter.
We are talking seven years here, don’t forget.
The metro’s version offered by spokesman Roland Williams is an insult to our intelligence.
The burning question now is: how many more ANC bigwigs are enjoying free electricity? Or free anything else from a dysfunctional metro administration?
Why should we believe Jordaan is the only ANC recipient of the metro’s largesse?
It needs a full inquiry, but by whom? Is there anyone honest and competent enough within the metro do it? I doubt it.
And even if there were, would the outcome ever be published? I doubt it.
The central problem is: committing a crime is no impediment to progression up the ANC ladder. In fact, it seems to be a badge of honour.
There is no shame in having a criminal record and holding public office. Parliament, the public service, parastatals and local government are littered with disgusting examples.
Jordaan is merely the latest, and I am sure not the last, in a land that can ban the Dalai Lama, but lay out the red carpet for Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, wanted for genocide.
Geoff Bird, Port Elizabeth