Saints get stuck into river hyacinth

EDITOR – It seems that resolving the issues of polluted rivers and bird sanctuary is going to be a painstaking process.

Unfortunately, despite misgivings, one has to follow standard protocols, such as escalating complaints through the chain of command, and beyond if necessary.

With this in mind I have sent off a letter to the city manager, Sibusiso Sithole, repeating the question previously put to his subordinate managers: “I would like to know what the municipality intends to do to resolve the issue, how and when?” I received an unsigned (as usual) acknowledgement of receipt.

In the meantime, a group of selfless citizens known as the ‘Army Saints’ are showing what public-spiritedness can achieve. Led by local dynamo Shaun Callaghan, we have a large group of volunteers in the mucky Totit River with ropes, grappling irons, pitchforks and whatever, removing tons of water hyacinth, and determined to stay the course. Talk about community spirit.

All I can say is: “May the force be with you.”