Concerned resident, Welkom:
I am reading all the comments on all social platforms regarding the water and electricity situation in our beloved city.
One thing that strikes me, is that suddenly people from all walks of life are now calling on their elected councillors to come up with answers. And “nogals” immediately.
However, those who have not voted in the last election are now yelling the loudest. “Where are our councillors? Why don’t we get feedback?” and so on.
In the suburb of Riebeeckstad, the residents are up in arms and rightfully so. To be without water for more than five weeks is unfathomable. But, and this is a big but, how should these councillors come up with answers if the ruling ANC municipality is not doing their job?
They (ANC) are the ones who should be the responsible party. When they give watered-down answers to the councillors and the councillors convey this to the public, the public still blames the councillors.
Stop blaming the councillors.
Does the public expect the councillors to repair the pipes and whatnot? When these councillors ask the public to come out and vote for change, people just do not do it.
You will not see change if the public does not stand together and vote out these rotten apples. There are so many factors in play.
- Some residents (not all) do not pay their municipal accounts.
- Bloem Water/Eskom cannot do maintenance or buy new pumps/transformers because their accounts do not get paid
- Matjhabeng says Bloem Water/Eskom is not doing maintenance/repairs and sends feedback to the councillors on this information but they do not tell the whole truth. What happened to the money owed to Bloem Water/Eskom?
Rumours start flying around and again the public blames the councillors.
So the councillors will always get the blame.
Nobody wins or gets the service they paid for.
The only way to get our beloved city back on track will be in the public’s hands next year with the 2024 elections.
So when you go outside your home to work, shop or relax and see sewage overflowing in the streets, the stench of refuse all around you, no water in your taps, potholes every two meters, broken street lights, parks in ruins, and no public facilities – like our city’s swimming pools, stadiums and our airport and so on, then know this: The blame lies squarely with us. We are responsible for the state of our city. It is our fault.
The city of Welkom needs our help – immediately.
