“Bad news sells newspapers” – a truism embraced with almost pornographic enthusiasm by one of our nearby city dailies, seems to be infecting our beloved city and local municipality of Grahamstown and Makana.
“Bad news sells newspapers” – a truism embraced with almost pornographic enthusiasm by one of our nearby city dailies, seems to be infecting our beloved city and local municipality of Grahamstown and Makana.
“A hot shower in the morning is a basic human right,” a dear friend from Somerset Heights assures me – oblivious for a brief grubby moment to the absence of reticulated water, let alone boilers, for many residents in Makana for much, if not all, of the time.
“The roads are a disgrace, and the endless water leaks making it all worse,” says another critic whose name is Legion, but whose hefty 4×4 has yet to traverse the distant parts of the Eastern suburbs, let alone the road to Riebeeck East.
“What the hell are they doing with all our rates money?” demands a third.
“Why can't they even keep accounts?”
All true, but let us for a moment look on the bright side. We are in one of the best places in South Africa to get an education. The private schools are outstanding; the “model C” schools, excellent; the support available to the other secondary schools by Rhodes' Education Faculty and University volunteers, generous, and the GADRA Matric School a little gem.
The growth of Rhodes University over the past couple of decades has been spectacular, bringing in a wealth of resources, much of which is recycled as wages, salaries, school fees and demands for goods and services in the municipal area.
We have the National Arts Festival which provides opportunities for profitable creativity and good publicity which are the blatant envy of cities many times our size.
There are several, educational public lectures almost every week throughout much of the year, and we are the poetry capital of the country.
The “Homestay” business, which received an early boost from [former Eastern Cape premier]Nosimo Balindlela, is but one spin-off for those with initiative and a willingness to work.
The Cathedral choir school, which regularly leads worship in the Cathedral, together with the Anglican Theological College, add further social and spiritual benefits to the whole community.
Rumour even has it that the ruins in New Street will soon vanish into history.
There are many grumblers, from Hill 60 to Extension 10 and beyond – and most complaints are valid.
Why should we pay our municipal accounts when we get no water and risk our tyres, or ankles, on our wretched streets?
Fair enough – but all registered voters have an opportunity to make a difference within the next year or so.
Municipal elections will be held and a new Council elected. Makana will have plenty of choice, if the more vociferous citizens stand up to be counted.
No doubt the ANC will continue to be the Big Beast in the municipal jungle – but as the ruling party over the past 20 years, its councillors and appointees will have to accept responsibility for the current problems and only the voters can make them pay the price.
The DA, as the only other party represented on Council, has plenty of expertise, if not experience of power, in its ranks. Jock McConnachie has much experience in campaigning, if not in office, but as a mature advocate, backed by independents, could make a major contribution.
Ayanda Kota, who commands great respect in the community, could likewise make a valuable contribution as an independent. We could even have Malema's merry minstrels to liven up local politics.
It is within living memory, just, that Makana was within a single council vote of having a DA mayor (if only for a day!).
With a much broader based coalition of the willing, Makana could have a representative and vulnerable Council and build once more on the wonderful resources that our great city possesses.
* Michael Whisson is a former DA Chief Whip in th Makana Council who missed becoming Mayor by one vote.
