EDITOR – This letter is written knowing that the pen is not mightier than the sword – and perhaps it never was.
It is also written knowing that continued attempts to fulfil the demands of outdated euphemisms and political rhetoric are forcing us into perpetuating confusion and absurdity every day.
Yes, we know: ‘Do unto others as we would have others do unto us.’ Yes we know all about ‘The Rainbow Nation’, ‘Simunye’ and ‘Ubuntu’. We know ‘charity begins at home’ and our communities are the building blocks of a great multi-cultural nation rich in tolerance despite diversity – a new nation born out of the most democratic constitution. Freedom is what we have achieved – and we believe this when we watch some of our most fictional advertisements on television. Sadly, it is time to ‘call a spade a spade’ because that is what it is.
Montclair, Woodhaven and Woodlands we have a major problem. Our streets are known well by the criminals who use them – as are our homes.
Great South Africans have bought property here and are now spending more money on their walls and security systems than they could have on a fitted kitchen. Looking at the SAPS arrest statistics, we must commend our local officers on making more arrests than any other suburb – but that’s not really good news. Parks and gardens must be commended on their efforts to provide user-friendly recreation spaces and facilities – despite the fact that they have been systematically vandalised and turned into shaded spaces for mugging, indecent exposure and marauding sex offenders. Local businesses are trying to make a living but I understand why many of their ‘real’ potential customers choose to spend their money elsewhere – so do the owners.
Recently, an empty pocket of over-used condoms was tossed over the fence into my garden. When I asked the neighbour to accept responsibility for the contaminated items, I was met with hostility and laughable legal jargon and told to provide proof. Realising this would require extensive and expensive DNA testing (of my neighbours themselves), I chose to dispose of the offensive garbage myself by using a DSW bag. The young man who I pay to cut my lawn was robbed of his machine at gunpoint by thugs in a white Golf 500m from Spar. The lane that connects Shoprite to Glen Park is a frequent hang-out for local scholars after school, for all manner of illegal activity. The pretence of seeking work has become a lucrative pastime, as has lying inebriated on the centre island at the top of Kenyon Howden Road.
Wonderful people have chosen to live in what has become a lower-middle class – more accurately working class – community. Sadly, those more affluent have chosen to buy property here and fill the building with tenants who have absolutely no vested interest in maintaining what is not theirs. Landlords simply vanish into silence as long as the EFT payments are being made. Every resident wants to live in peace and harmony. We would prefer not to be harassed, verbally insulted or have the pressure of having to be continuously vigilant. Ironically, our residents’ devotion to our community’s well-being (given the large number of churches and areas of worship in the area) is proving ineffective. Are we to assume that so many of our prayers are falling on deaf ears?
We want action from the suited bureaucrats whose salaries we pay. We will do what we can, even if we have to bring a notepad to a gun fight. These areas have the potential to become liveable neighbourhoods – even if they are south of the Umbilo. We want zero-tolerance for all who are dragging our homes into the gutters of the canal. We shouldn’t have to invest in 8ft walls because we shouldn’t need to. Perhaps it is true: ‘Evil will flourish when good men or women do nothing.’ We must be aware of allowing our neighbourhood of law-abiding rate-payers to be intimidated into accepting a fate far below mediocrity. Our community deserves better.
RICHARD JAMES HERD
