Klarika Nettleton from the Bloubosrand Community Forum and Bloubosrand Animal Welfare Group writes:
I am non-stop busy on all fronts to get our beautiful region restored to its former glory. But everything needs to be done properly and systematically to ensure permanent improvements.
I was informed on 11 August that lots of police cars had entered Kya Sand Informal Settlement and I was on the scene at about 2pm. I met up with Jo-Ann Atkins, from Region A, and asked her to please brief me as to what was going on. I saw Red Ants pulling down masses of shacks and I found out that no alternative accommodation had been provided. I expressed my extreme consternation and sorrow because this is certainly not the way to deal with illegal immigration and illegal occupation of land by homeless South Africans.
Everything needs to be done humanely. I begged her to inform our local SPCA should there be animals involved, but fortunately, I didn’t see any. Squatter camps are an extremely inhumane environment for all feeling beings, great and small. The Bloubosrand Community Forum is protesting, in the strongest terms, against this unacceptable situation. And there is more to it which I do not want to discuss now.
At the same time, our suburb and other adjacent suburbs are degraded. Also, Council needs to take responsibility for animal welfare and not leave everything to volunteers and private organisations who all work themselves to a standstill with limited resources. I have e-mailed Council and the President’s office about everything, but have not received any response as yet.
May I appeal to all, especially to those who earn a monthly salary, to please donate pet food for dogs and cats and tick/flea products, because we try to help three informal settlements and also Cosmo RDP.
Clothing and toys for children and adults are also gratefully accepted. Details: Klarika, 011 462 1445, klarika@telkomsa.net
