Plea to leaders to save Komani

An open letter to Chris Hani District Municipality, Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, the premier of the Eastern Cape and the state president, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa

As a South African citizen and a Queenstonian for many decades, I feel myself qualified to address you on the following:

I humbly request you to dissolve the embattled above mentioned municipalities on the following grounds: The said structures have limped from one crisis to the other over the years since the inception of local governments more than 20 years ago.

As citizens, we seem to be powerless against arrogant political appointees and ruthless rulers.

I mention the following as crises that we had to tolerate: the R7m that went missing a few years ago; claims from private citizens and contractors; the sale (auction) of municipal property; nonpayment of Eskom accounts which ran into millions of rand; pothole-ridden streets across all areas of town; non-delivery of water and electricity; non-maintenance; an absent traffic department; municipal bylaws that are not enforced; the taxi rank saga ongoing for many years; traffic lights that become a danger to motorists and pedestrians; the hire of a mayoral vehicle this list is endless.

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Private citizens and concerned citizens assist and fund repairs for the delivery and maintenance of water and electricity departments while we have a bloated, seemingly unqualified, overpaid and underperforming workforce.

These two entities are an embarrassment to themselves, and to citizens.

It is a disgrace, it is shameful and it is a mess

– once the Rose of the Border, now resembles a ghost town.

Not performing their duties professionally is, to my mind, sinful and borders on criminality

– and we citizens do not deserve it I do not

– deserve this local government because I did not elect them.

Their conduct amounts to crimes against humanity, because it is being leveled against human beings who suffer terribly when water and electricity are withheld from them.

Senior citizens and school children suffer most.

Officials and employees go about their business with impunity.

Mayors change regularly, municipal managers receive golden handshakes and others are promoted in the political hierarchy.

As a lay person, I call upon the citizenry of Komani and the legal minds among us to approach Mr [Buang] Jones of the Human Rights Commission and the Constitutional Court because our human rights are being trampled upon left, right and centre.

Let us invite former public protector, advocate Thuli Madonsela, to assist us in our struggle. I am sure that every inhabitant of our town will be willing to contribute towards a fund for the cost.

With the Covid-19 lockdown and the winter upon us, accompanied by strict regulations, we suffer even more with most councillors nowhere to be seen to give guidance and assist.

Queenstown seems to be a free-for-all with no law enforcers (police, army, traffic) in sight

– everything seems to be the old normal.

Mr premier, while I m writing this letter, this is

’ the third day we are without electricity . . . it is pathetic.

I have paid my dues to this country and this town in the form of rates and taxes and made many other contributions over many years. This has to stop, the sooner the better.

Stephen Sass