Ward committee member berates poor service delivery
ALEXANDRA - A ward committee member has likened the quality of life of ordinary Alexandrians with that of the pre democracy era when suffering was the norm for most blacks.
A ward committee member has likened the quality of life of ordinary Alexandrians with that of the pre-democracy era when suffering was the norm for most black people.
Mike Beea, social activist, politician and former detainee, said most residents abhorred the terminology ‘rainbow nation’ as it does not live up to its notion of unity and equality. “To them, these terms are unattainable ideals as their lives are worse than 20 years ago when they were not surrounded by incessant dirt, effluence and environmental decay. They cannot pretend to feel and lead better lives as the promised reconstruction has somehow gone into reverse.”
Beea said this from a chronicle of past injustices when they suffered racial and bantu administration abuse, demolitions and bombing of homes, police brutality, detentions without trials, murder by hired criminal gangs and security agents. He said their feelings of neglect are real and evoked anger when they saw themselves lagging behind in improvements on their lives.
“They expressed being let down by the current status quo and sometimes, this boils into angry street protests and crime prompted by desire to be heard, and in substance abuse to ward off misery. Also, in domestic violence which unfortunately impacts dependent members of their families.”
Their anger he said, was further compounded by lack of dependable income which forces them to live in shacks that are mushrooming everywhere with no proper services making them rely on unhygienic toilet systems. “This diminishes their dignity when they have to queue for access to the facility. It is very degrading especially for women who can be observed when in the dilapidated toilets.”
Beea attributed this to lack of development control and development planning skills resulting in everyone doing as they pleased, constructing on sewers, water mains and power lines and polluting the environment with no fear of prosecution or concern for their childrens’ future. “As a committee member, it’s frustrating when the advice we give to councillors on development is not heeded and implemented. It is a cause for sewage pipes bursting from overuse and remaining unrepaired for weeks and months which is unheard of in the suburbs.” He urged government to engage planning and development experts available in the township to drive programmes and projects to allay the concerns of a restive public.
