11-05-2025
#Letter: Open letter to the mayor: Time to show leadership in the southern wards
#Letter: Open letter to the mayor: Time to show leadership in the southern wards
To say the people of the Dolphin Coast were disappointed by your absence at our Imbizo is putting it mildly.
Especially after the meeting had already been postponed. The general feeling is that you have no interest in our area, and this is unacceptable. I think you need to remember that the Dolphin Coast is the golden egg of the area. The rates collected from this area account for a significant portion of KDM's municipal income. We are tired of being neglected.
As the town becomes more run-down, our property values decline – and with them, your ability to collect meaningful revenue. We are no longer willing to accept poor service delivery, including ongoing electricity and water shortages. Holidaymakers, a huge part of the Dolphin Coast's income, are saying they will not return.
The questions I have are as follows;
1. Why are we paying R175 000 for security for your home? And why is a Durban company contracted and not a local one? Plus the huge cost of your vehicles and personal body guards.
2. If such funding is readily available, why have the traffic lights on Ballito's main road been out of order for months? One has been lying on the ground outside the Lifestyle Centre since well before Christmas.
Please do not claim there are no funds, this is totally ridiculous considering the above. Considering the municipality receives absolutely no funds from the taxi business, but you cannot afford a few thousand rands to repair the traffic lights, something is seriously amiss.
Yes, I know about budgets, but if your accounts are in order you should have a reserve fund for emergencies, and this is an emergency.
3. Potholes and street lights are not being attended to. Why?
4. If not for the efforts of the Ballito UIP, which has assumed many municipal responsibilities, the condition of the town would be far worse than it already is.
Sir, your continued absence and inaction suggest a disregard for our area. Your absence at our Imbizo meeting was not appreciated by all those who made the effort to attend. The size of the turnout should be cause for serious concern. At present, there is little to no public confidence in your leadership as mayor.
Letter shortened – Ed.
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