Grow Bela-Bela team, via email, writes:
In the 1960’s the United States president, John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address inspired children and adults to see the importance of civic action and public service.
His historic words, “It’s not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country,” challenged every American to contribute in some way to the public good.
These words hold true within South Africa today. We have been sitting on the side lines for too long, expecting somebody else to fix the seemingly unsurmountable problems that is besetting our country. We want to suggest that action starts at home.
If each citizen starts by taking responsibility in the day to day maintenance of their neighbourhoods and the running of their towns, we will have the ability to change our country for the better. Covid-19 has accelerated the breakdown of services and has managed to put a spotlight on inefficiencies within our municipalities, the lack of resources to maintain infrastructure and other urgent issues.
This is also applicable for Bela-Bela. The latest Auditor General’s report was unflattering for town management.
The lack of maintenance to infrastructure was highlighted in the report. The Post newspaper reported on numerous occasions on the decay in the town and poor service delivery. Business owners from across all sectors of industry within Bela-Bela came together to form a non-profit entity called Grow Bela-Bela.
This entity is non-political and its purpose is to work with the municipality and other stakeholders to stop the decay within the town and to build Bela-Bela into a thriving community that can rightfully position itself as the gateway to the Bushveld.
The objectives identified within the project to be focussed for sustainable growth in and around town, are tourism, agriculture, commerce, education, environment, logistics, local economic development and our youth.
Grow Bela-Bela, in collaboration with the Bela-Bela municipality, are in the process of setting up platforms to allow all citizens to participate in revitalising our town.
As a first step Grow Bela-Bela are planning a clean-up campaign, which will be launched in two weeks. This will be followed by community projects as identified by the citizens of Bela-Bela.
To participate in this project or to give suggestions contact our team at letstalk@growbelabela.co.za(.)
This entity is non-political and non-racial, and its purpose is to work with the municipality.
