Skyscrapers, highways, a public transport sytem, schools, a university and colleges, shopping centres, museums, public parks, an arboretum – as big as 90 soccer fields and with over 1,1 million plants – and a government complex with a skygarden stretching for 3,6 km between rooftops are some elements of Sejong, a city in South Korea.
What is remarkable of Sejong, built for 500 000 people, is that the above was completed in five years after the decision was taken to establish an administrative capital in the centre of South Korea, making it more accessible for all.
In Kimberley, after far more than a decade, the Sol Plaatje Municipality and the Northern Cape government (since this city is the capital of the province, after all) seemingly could not care less about at least upgrading and expanding the aged infrastructure of the water treatment plant at Riverton, which feeds water to the capital.
For years press releases have been sent out mentioning the “urgent” upgrade needed. In the face of this, and water shutdowns over years, residents have once again experienced empty taps this weekend due to “emergency repairs” on the 600 mm and 900 mm pipeline.
“Despite interventions made in fixing major leaks, they re-occured,” the municipality stated.
Warrenton’s nearly 25 000 residents were without water since February, and after six months and millions of rands, only a temporary and not so successful solution was implemented.
One of many explanations for the complex term “political will”, according to The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential, is “it is the magic ingredient of human commitment to a cause which makes things work or make things happen”.
The lack thereof is often a reason for failure of anti-corruption reforms and a major obstacle to economic performance, states Transparency International, a global movement.
On the building of Sejong in only five years, its first elected mayor said, “It only reinforces the commitment of the government.”
