It’s now official, the President has informed us that the ANC is more important than the country.
The evidence was always there, many people were just too obtuse to see it.
Here’s the most recent example: spending R4-billion on a jet for one person (with all the bells and whistles for the main ANC honcho), instead of improving the infrastructure that would benefit the country.
At the local level, the telltale signs that the ANC cadres consider themselves more important than the residents of the East Rand are there for all to see (but many don’t, or just ignore them).
Here are a few glaring examples: protecting important cadres who are guilty of fraud and corruption (especially in regard to the allocation of tenders), turning a blind eye to incompetence (how is it that the billions in outstanding debt keeps growing?), weeks to repair burst water pipes (did anyone inform the occupiers in the ivory tower in Germiston that there is a drought gripping the country?), plenty to spend on entertainment and parties – while the NGOs who help the needy battle to obtain funding.
Can you now see the highly visible thread – ANC first and then, maybe, the government will allocate something to benefit the residents (the funders), like fixing a couple of potholes or some street lights, or covering a few open manholes.
The real problem is that while lavishly looking after themselves (inspired by the esteemed leader, lest we forget Nkandla), there is very little maintenance/upgrading occurring in critically important areas: electricity distribution, water and sewage and protection of the environment.
Many of us can see and experience the general degradation of Ekurhuleni.
When the upgrades become urgent (as is the case in Germiston, with the aged water pipes being replaced), we will be slammed with huge rates increases.
The local elections are next year – remember, who should come first, the ANC or the residents?
