Disinformation on breakfast TV was misleading
2007-02-22
THE Peoples’ Budget is an effort by the National Government to enable the public to influence the National Budget.
In many instances the result of such an exercise is positive, in that the people are able to voice what they wish the budget should look like.
In some cases this exercise loses meaning when people being interviewed begin to use it as a platform to propagate distorted information. This was the case when the Morning Live Program was broadcast on Monday 12 February from Mbekweni township in Paarl.
The portrayal of Drakenstein Municipality as non-delivering was disappointing to say the least. Statements alleging that the unemployment rate in Mbekweni is 75% are both alarming and inaccurate. People must begin to be responsible when giving out statistics about the population.
What was also disturbing in the program was to listen to one senior citizen of Mbekweni saying that nothing had changed in Mbekweni in many decades, which is a gross distortion of facts.
This misinformation by this respected individual is not going to help build a budget that is responsive to the needs of the people of Mbekweni and is not going to ensure development thereof.
To dispel the notion that nothing has happened in Mbekweni in many years one can take as a sample period, the years between 1994 to date and look closely at the development of that area.
There have been many improvements, such as the erection of a library and a swimming pool, the tarring of almost all the streets with storm water drainage and installation of street lighting.
We should also not forget that a satellite municipal office together with a fire station were built in Mbekweni, thus bringing these essential services closer to people.
As we speak, what used to be single hostels that were both filthy and crime ridden, have been successfully converted to family units.
What we need to ask ourselves is where were these individuals when we saw the emergence of the following housing projects in Mbekweni: Silvertown (221 units), Thembani (269 units), Chris Hani (308 units), B & C Hostels Overflow (141 units), Edube (181 units, and upgrading of White City Hostels (140 units).
In addition, a total of 2300 erven are being prepared for emergency housing (Drommedaris) near the traffic centre to accommodate families that are currently living in informal settelements. They will be relocated to the new site where basic services including toilets will be provided. The civil contractor will commence with the installation of services any day now.
As far as the delayed housing scheme 49 (Project 2) is concerned: while 26 of the 791 units have been built, another 766 subsidies have been approved, and 120 of these houses will be built during the next financial year. The remainder are to be built as a matter of urgency and the time frame will be concluded after discussions with the Provincial Department of Housing.
In Langabuya, construction of houses on the open section of land next to Drommedaris Street will commence once the services have been installed.
The time frame for the installation of services is approximately 18 months.
An application for top structure funding must still be finalised and submitted to the Provincial Department of Housing as the current funding source, the Emergency Housing Programme, does not make provision for top structure funding.
It leaves one with the thought that these are individuals with selective memory, who on the one hand would like to destroy the good work performed by this municipality and on the other hand would like to confuse the public as to what has been done so far.
We might not have reached a point where Mbekweni has been transformed into a glitz and glamour area. We might not have reached a point where everyone in the township is provided with decent houses and affordable utilities, but it is irresponsible to say things have not changed.
Let us be responsible and begin to appreciate what we have, instead of painting gloom to the outside world about our township.
Dr Sidima Kabanyane
Drakenstein Municipal Manager
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