Amanzimtoti councillor takes stock of 2018

Ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge wishes all Amanzimtoti residents and visitors to our beautiful town a peaceful and festive season. “As we approach the end of what seems a year that only started yesterday, we are once again reminded of how fast things change.

On the national front South Africa changed a president, billions continue to go ‘missing’, careers have been made and in some instances ended, we have apparently gone into and come out of a recession in record time, dropped the pass rate to 30%, thereby increasing the unemployable, and load shedding, during low consumption Summer months, has again become a reality yet against the backdrop of coal exports to China.

On the local front, certain areas remain prone to water outages resulting from old and failing infrastructure, cable theft and illegal connections are the source of power outages, natural resources are polluted, taxis stop where and when they want, carguards and vagrants swarm in the hope of an elm to support a hungry stomach or possibly an addiction, and prostitutes showcase in the shade of broken street lights while dogs scavenge the content of uncollected recycling bags.

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But then the glass isn’t always half empty, as many have rolled up their sleeves in an effort to make our town a home and destination of choice. Regular community and beach clean-ups are the order of the day, individuals slave virtually day and night in their effort to maintain our central sport facilities in pristine condition, thought has gone into reducing litter into our rivers, stormwater damage that pockmarked our coastline has to a large extent been successfully repaired and areas replanted or upgraded, our local sportmen and women continue to bring home accolades, and our children excel beyond expectation and outside the boundaries of our ‘village’.

While we possibly remain over-critical of ourselves, which on the upside keeps others on their toes, we also have to be conscious of the fact that we reside in possibly one of the nicest parts of the eThekwini coastline with 33 kilometres of unobstructed beaches, catering for an array of watersport and leisure. We remain blessed with all-year good weather, enjoy the spoils of a village where the butcher, baker, tailor and candle stick maker are our friends, yet forming part of the metropolis that remains a sanctuary in comparison to smaller municipalities which grind to a complete stop.

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Our people, quarrelsome as some might be, remain bonded by the sweet water that we drink, the clean air that we breath and the bright sunshine we cherish. As we close the chapter on 2018, let us also spare a moment for those loved ones who are no longer with us, let us consider the glass being rather half full, let us observe the existence of Christ in Christmas while taking hands and praying for His blessing in 2019.”