In a stunning victory, the Western Cape Government has vanquished the almighty SANRAL and effectively stopped the proposed e-toll system from infecting their communities.
Its almost as if the Western Cape is a country inside of a country, its like a different place compared to the rest of South Africa all together.
Mayor Patricia De Lille took on the National Government and SANRAL in court to stop e-tolls from being instituted in the Western Cape, and won. Clearly we could use some of that rational here in Gauteng.
There was all the hype by our Premier over how they will revise the e-toll system with the view to remove them, but all we got was a reduction in rates that still hits our pockets in multiple ways. Now I don’t need to rant and rave about the ills of the system, we are all aware of them.
All I want to say is well done Cape Town, you have shown us that there are still areas that will not bow to the god of greed, and honestly takes the concerns of the people to heart.
I mean another initiative that started there is the arresting of maintenance defaulters, getting errant fathers to pay for the children that they sired. How many single mothers struggle to feed, clothe, house and educate their children whilst the fathers shirk their responsibility.
And then there is Premier Zille, who opens up her residence once a month for the community to enjoy the gardens and tennis courts and even the swimming pool.
Where is this anywhere else in South Africa? So not only do they have a province of immense natural beauty and incredibly beautiful people, but an effective system of governance too.
And all it took was a dedicated team of officials and councilors, all aimed at delivering real services and ensuring that the poorest of poor are not further targeted.
So to you Western Cape, I say congratulations and please bring whatever it is that you have down there, up here because we need some of that.
