EDITOR – I read with dismay and frustration the letter headlined Toti is not a safe place anymore published in the South Coast Sun on 5 July.
I recently had the privilege to travel Route 62 in the Western Cape province. Visited and stayed over in picturesque places like Worcester, Barrydale, Ladysmith, Tulbach, Montagu, Oudtshoorn, Bonnievale, Calitzdorp, Robertson and Princeton. The majority are small town ‘dorpies’ in the middle of nowhere. Populations ranging from 4 156 and above. Very similar to Amanzimtoti (population 14 000+).
Boy! Was it refreshing and impressive to see these ‘dorpies’ did not use the current political situation or dire economy corruption and mismanagement as an excuse for poor management or service delivery. These local communities are proud of their ‘dorpies’. Lack of funds did not prevent them from giving their ‘dorpies’ a face lift.
Nowhere did you see empty dilapidated buildings. No hawkers, vendors, beggars and prostitutes roaming the streets (well if they’re there, you don’t see them). CCTV cameras and visible police force are everywhere. The streets are clean. Pavements, gutters and robots are well maintained. Buildings freshly painted, flower gardens and working street lights. Coffee and curio shops, restaurants, B&B’s are making a kill and tourism are flourishing.
As a curious tourist you felt welcome, like you want to be there. You can even roam the ‘dorpie’ per foot at night. You want to explore the hidden treasures these ‘dorpies’ have to offer and you are willing to spend.
Amanzimtoti has so much more to offer. It has the sea for free. Yet the business areas look like, well, a dump. Why is nothing done about this? In 1983 it was the pride of Amanzimtoti. Why does Amanzimtoti have a taxi rank in the middle of the town? Shouldn’t this area be set aside for tourism? Places of interest, bakeries, tourism information centre, coffee and curio shops? Why are buildings in main roads like Adams, Kingsway and Beach roads dilapidated? What a sight for sore eyes. Even the police station looks like a dump!
Why doesn’t Amanzimtoti create something unique to Amanzimtoti to draw crowds? Oudtshoorn has the Klein Karoo arts festival. Potchefstroom has Aardklop, Nelspruit has Inni Bos, Limpopo province has Oppikoppi, Mozambique has the STRAB and The Subterranean Rhythm and Blues Festival. It doesn’t need to be an arts or musical festival. Why not host an annually sporting event similar to the Argus or something? Create jobs to prevent locals from leaving for better. Better can be at your doorstep. Stop selling sections of your ‘dorpie’ to the Chinese.
Come on Amanzimtoti community and municipality. Your town has way more potential than Route 62 ‘dorpies’. Put Amanzimtoti back on the map!
LOSING HOPE.
DID YOU KNOW?
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