Dream of burying the hatchet dissolves

EDITOR – “Mommy mommy, they calling me names” is the sentiment detected in Jeff van Belkum’s intention to approach the South African Humans Rights Commission (SAHRC) as stated South Coast Sun of 10 July, citing a witch hunt on Cllr Andre Beetge.

While I welcome any platform including the SAHRC to tell the world what is happening in Amanzimtoti, I am also saddened by Jeff turning turtle in attitude after my visit to the local river to give moral support to the Army Saints a few Sundays ago.

At this event Jeff and I greeted each other in a friendly manner and we had a very cordial discussion. I even dared to envisage in thought that Jeff and I could bury the hatchet of many years and unite on common causes. Well Van Belkum has curbed that dream abruptly by pitching his light weight behind Councillor Andre Beetge. I just do not know why Andre cannot fight his own battles and always has to rely on a dozen or two devotees who have no clue what the ward committee is dealing with when it comes to this politically obsessed councillor. Nor do Beetge’s few staunch followers know what enhanced service delivery they are losing out on by not having the ward committee functioning on all pistons and having 10 portfolio committees turning ward 97 into a model residential and business area as far as service delivery is concerned. I will not give up striving for unity of all people of our ward with amicable transformation as the objective.

I have different platforms where ward 97 issues are being looked at currently and adding the SAHRC to the list will serve the cause very well. Finally I will allow van Belkum to use me as a red herring to distract readers from his agenda to rekindle his past mediocre public life from the ashes of the previous dispensation.