As a concerned resident of Florida, I wish to raise a matter that might have been widely spoken of but has never been attended to in our suburb.
On its own, Florida is a suburb in a town falling apart, far removed from its glory days. Now it is infested with criminal activities of every kind, and it is a town in filth.
But my main concern, which I hope this newspaper can assist in bringing to the attention of the authorities, is the drug problem, especially south of the railway line, on Hull Street and 5th Avenue. As I go around other areas, I see developments, but Florida is like the scum on stagnant water.
Please take note that on 6th Avenue, close to the railway station, there is a nursery school (Cinderella) and behind the Shoprite precinct in town is another nursery school (Mary Poppins) – two great schools – but in close proximity to both, one notes the use of drugs. I used to see young boys going to school a few years back, perhaps during their Grade 12 days, but living in this environment has destroyed at least one’s future.
Should we first witness the same kind of incidents that happened in Rustenburg and elsewhere – incidents of crime against foreigners – before the authorities act in these areas?
The whole area south of the railway line, all the way through Unified and Maraisburg has been left to itself and become dilapidated, while the north side is the place to be.
As someone who cares, I plead with the authorities and all involved, for the sake of the children and other concerned society members like me, that this matter be prioritised. Where drugs are the norm, society will never achieve its full potential of growth and a better life for all.
Please, please, please, somebody help us, help the children of our society and Florida. Let us do it for the children.
