Henka Kotzee writes an open letter to the Matjhabeng Municipality and Lejweputswa District Municipality councillors:
Some of you have served multiple terms as councillors, while for others, this was your first five years in office.
Before anything else, you are part of this community. You were once among those who voiced dissatisfaction, who believed this is not how communities should be treated. You took a stand and assured residents that you would fight for them.
I know many of you had plans. Many of you believed you would make a difference. But when you realised that the real power was not with the residents, but with shady characters and political leaders who do not have the best interests of the community at heart, you made a choice: speak out or remain silent and continue enjoying free money.
Yes, you have been recipients of free money, because most of you did little to nothing over the past four years. It is only now, as elections approach, that some of you want to rise and be seen.
Take a step back, look around; you will see:
■ A town dying of hunger.
■ Sewerage everywhere.
■ Water wastage all over the place.
■ Missing service delivery.
■ Severe unemployment.
■ Youth trapped in drug abuse.
■ No sports facilities.
■ Corruption.
■ Soaring prices of basic goods.
■ Crime at an all-time high.
■ Residents participating in illegal businesses to survive.
Is this the vision you had? What happened? What was so important that you abandoned your morals, ethics and civic duty?
When you are out of office, do you expect the community to feel sorry for you?
But it is never too late to stand up for what is right. It is never too late to put the community first.
Meeting me in the streets and telling me you support me is disingenuous. Stand up in council and fight for this community. No mandate should ever overpower the voice of those who put you in power.
To those who honoured their oath and continue to put the community first, hats off to you, coupled with a standing ovation.
Let us save the Matjhabeng Municipality and Lejweputswa District Municipality.
