EDITOR – The Berea Mail team deserves recognition for often bringing to our attention issues that many of us were not previously aware of. An example of this is the article about the plight of the sand sculptors at the beachfront.
The materials they work with are not permanent and do not create litter or impede traffic. These artists are not begging on street corners or harassing motorists parking their cars, they are not out there stealing, breaking into homes, wielding knives and guns. Instead, they are constructing remarkable creations that attract and give pleasure to both tourists and locals using their own very limited resources. Have you ever tried to build a simple sand castle on the beach? And yet they are lucky if the odd spectator throws them a couple of rand.
The council should be paying them for providing enjoyment to thousands and what do they do instead? They penalise them for trying to make an honest living by hiding behind some ill-worded by-law that takes no account of these facts.
An individual who deserves recognition is Tony Ball. Whether or not you agree with his opinions, his letters highlight some of the many flaws in local government’s administration. He even sometimes elicits responses from council spokespersons, albeit often unconvincing or irrelevant. He may be tilting at windmills as far as they are concerned but at least, unlike most of us who just mutter to each other over a beer or coffee cup, he takes the trouble to voice his feelings publicly which most of us are too indifferent, lethargic or apathetic to do.
Resident
Glenwood
