I refer to the debacle surrounding the proposed sale and development of Green Belt areas of our town.

Commercial development is an unavoidable reality. Conservation areas are an absolute necessity. Our Green Belt is currently a hopelessly undermanaged liability for the town. The bird park is practically inaccessible, polluted and a serious crime zone. The water in the “pond” under the Rissik Street bridge is an eyesore and vagrants have taken up residence on the river bank.

We have a unique feature in that the three entrances to our town are bridges over a river and have enviable potential for beautiful natural or landscaped parks. In the past, they were carefully maintained and were welcome sights for weary travellers.  Presently, the neglected and polluted “green areas” adjacent to the town’s entrances are an embarrassing reminder of the municipality’s dysfunctional parks department.

While it will be tragic to sacrifice some of these areas to commercial development, a professionally designed and managed complex of filling station, shops, eateries etc. will provide a preferable facade to our town’s entrance.

I also would like to comment on the remarks made by an outraged resident regarding school children being made to clean up litter.

Litter is another inevitable symptom of our sick society and it is absolutely the municipality’s and every residents’ duty to maintain a clean and tidy town, but it’s not happening. Responsible citizens are now forced to provide a plethora of services for themselves as a result of failing public service delivery. We cannot slouch back and claim that it is not our job to maintain a civilized environment. If 10% of the towns folk cleaned up their own little patch, a visible improvement will be achieved which may even result in an attitude change. A very tired cliché is appropriate here: “We are either part of the problem or part of the solution”. If you are happy living in a filthy neighbourhood and not prepared to clean up your patch, you are part of the problem.

- Bruce Murray
Makhado (Louis Trichardt)