EDITOR – Apparently, South Africa’s Constitution is highly regarded worldwide.
I’m not sure why.
After all, judging by the everyday conduct of the eThekwini Municipality in the Durban metropole, matters such as common decency, the rule of law, and the Constitution are quite meaningless.
It seems this municipality enjoys showing contempt for its citizens. The signs are there.
Recent events indicate our ANC controlled city council is determined to enforce its ideological schemes and subvert basic rights at every opportunity, no matter what. Such schemes are always put across as quite innocuous and of course, entirely justifiable. Better watch out.
Take the so-called sports academy at Kings Park as an example. Fact is, the council’s decision on 30 October 2014 to lease the land, is fraudulent. The entire process followed by the council and relevant officials, including inviting objections from the public after the decision was made, is based on misrepresentation. As per normal, the responsible officials are always in hiding, unreachable and therefore, untouchable. All legitimate attempts to obtain information or documentation are routinely ignored. So, what are they hiding?
In the midst of all this we now have a mystery enterprise (now disappeared), advertising a commercial five-a-side soccer stadium with attractive profits on the land where the sports academy is supposed to go. Once again, no answers.
Then we have the so-called Berea Rovers ‘Sports’ Club, the first tenant named for eviction on 30 October 2014, but granted a 30 year lease a few weeks later, while the other tenants on the same land are served with eviction notices. How is such injustice even possible? More to the point, how is such injustice tolerated? Again, no answers.
I have made a formal presentation to the DA and requested appropriate legal action. A response is awaited.
With regard to other ‘innocuous schemes’, I find our mayor’s call for a military presence in Durban, quite interesting. Among other things, Her Worship says the military can help in dealing with ‘natural disasters and political violence’. Well, I don’t know when last Durban required the army to deal with a natural disaster, if ever, but I certainly understand the reference to ‘political violence’. Come madam, who are you trying to fool?
Of interest, is the recently announced economic emancipation scheme which will, by decree, after ‘consultation’, have contractors or service providers selected from the wards where the service or project is being undertaken. I would imagine the queue of comrades, cadres and cousins is already halfway round the block. I predict that plain, unmarked envelopes will be in great demand.
And most recently, we have new fees imposed on those residents who wish to appeal against city council town planning decisions. So the average resident is going to find it considerably more expensive if, for example, you wanted to object to the construction of a monstrous building or a tavern or workshop next your house. The municipality has arbitrarily decided to increase the cost of an appeal from R967 to R5,000, an increase of 534%. I wonder why?
Freedom to abuse power must be a wonderful thing for those of twisted mind. Even more wondrous when you have taxpayers’ money available, on tap. The city council no doubt still has quite a few tricks up its sleeve.
Question is, who will defend the good citizens of eThekwini?
JEFF VAN BELKUM
