Die oorverdowende geraas in die strate weens die skielike aksie deur politici wat jare lank meestal agter die skerms besig was, beteken dat dit nou amper tyd is vir inwoners om hul kruisies te trek.
Die meeste Barrydalers gaan op 4 November na die Forts Haven saal om te besluit watter party hulle die beste gaan verteenwoordig. Hopelik beskik hulle oor ’n 4×4, want die paaie lyk maar rof. Gelukkig wil dit voorkom asof die probleem van rioolwater wat jare lank in die strate geloop het, opgelos is.
Maar wanneer u daardie uitstappie onderneem, loer gerus oor die muur na die verwaarloosde veld waar die beroemde Barrydale Derby vanjaar gespeel is, sonder ’n pawiljoen in sig. Dit som die stand van sake redelik goed op.
Eerlikwaar, die grootste inspuiting by Die Rasper die afgelope tyd was die R50 000 wat John Dobson en die Stormers daar ingepomp het.
Politici sal gou uitwys dat die sportvelde die rugbyklubs se verantwoordelikheid is. Maar op die boeke is dit ’n bate van die Raad. Die sogenaamde toerismesentrum in Van Riebeeckstraat is nog ’n wit olifant wat nie aangespreek is nie.
Die ou karavaanpark is ook ’n oogseer. Dan kan ’n mens net wonder hoe netjies die dorp sou wees as dit nie vir organisasies soos Let’s Clean Barrydale was nie.
Vra jouself dus die volgende vraag voordat jy jou kruisie trek: Het Ikey Ferguson (ANC), Frans Kees (DA) of Amanda Swart (ANC) die afgelope vier jaar konsekwent die beste belange van die gemeenskap op die hart gedra? Was hulle leiers of bloot salaristrekkers? Dit is regverdige vrae.
Wat jy ook al doen, trek jou kruisie waar ’n oulap en ’n T-hemp jou nie van die werklikheid van die saak sal verblind nie.
Onthou, die dorp het drie raadslede gehad wat Barrydale se stem anderkant die berg moes wees. Dit is drie stemme in ’n Raad van 11 wat klagtes na die owerhede moes neem en ook moes sorg dat daar vooruitgang vir die armstes is.
As jy dus tevrede is met wat hulle vermag het, steun hulle weer. Indien nie, gee hulle die trekpas.
Vrae wat nie langer geïgnoreer behoort te word nie
News62 se voortgesette beriggewing oor Swellendam Munisipaliteit het oor die jare heen vrae laat ontstaan oor bestuur, dienslewering, finansiële aanspreeklikheid en die hantering van ondersoeke na beweerde onreëlmatighede.
Vir Barrydalers wat die merkbare agteruitgang in hul omgewing ervaar het, is die vraag nie meer bloot wie volgende verkies gaan word nie. Die vraag is of die mense wat hulself as leiers aanbied, bereid is om rekenskap van hul rekord te gee.
1. Wat het ons raadslede werklik vir Barrydale bereik?
Inwoners behoort nie tevrede te wees met algemene beloftes oor ontwikkeling, werkskepping en beter dienslewering nie.
Die leerlinglisensietoetssentrum het vir byna twee jaar gesluit gebly, sonder dat Ferguson, Kees of Swart in die openbaar oor die saak standpunt ingeneem het.
Voor die vorige verkiesing is daar belowe dat ’n buisnesspark in Smitsville ontwikkel sou word. Gaan kyk gerus hoe dit vandag daar lyk – dit is dalke die beste voorbeeld om uit te wys presies hoe belangrik Wyk 2 vir die Raad is.
Die pothole-krisis van sowat twee jaar gelede is deur deur Derek de Villiers van Country Pumpkin en tot ‘n mate Morris Riddles onder die Raad se aandag gebring. Geen raadslid het volgens ons inligting ’n leidende rol in die saak gespeel nie.
Miljoene (hier praat ons van groot geld) is gemors op die hernuwing van Van Riebeek Straat wat snaaks genoeg een van die beter stukkies teer in die dorp was.
Gemeenskapsveiligheid, veral misdaadbekamping, asook oplossings vir die tikprobleem waarmee talle huishoudings worstel, is sake wat grootliks deur die privaatsektor aangespreek is.
Van betekenisvolle vordering is daar min te sien en nog minder tekens van sterk leierskap.
Waar daar voorheen meer as R2 miljoen aan toerisme ontwikkeling bestee is, het daar maar min geld uit (sowat R100 000.00 wat aan die Barrydale Jazz & Brass Festival NPC toegeken is) Swellendam Munisipaliteit se begroting in Barrydale beland. Dit terwyl toerisme een van die dorp se belangrikste bronne van inkomste is.
Die rede hiervoor was glo kostebesparing. Tog is daar geld om die een ondersoek ná die ander van stapel te stuur. Daar word in die orndersoeke na bewering aangevoer dat amptenare geskors of wetlik vervolg moet word, maar daar gebeur niks.
Dink maar mooi, Barrydale. Julle ken die mense wat die grootste geraas maak, maar wie se bydrae tot die dorp se vooruitgang bevraagteken kan word.
ENGLISH BELOW:
The deafening noise in the streets, caused by the sudden flurry of activity from politicians who have spent years working mostly behind the scenes, means it is almost time for residents to cast their votes.
Most Barrydale residents will head to the Forts Haven Hall on 4 November to decide which party will best represent them. Hopefully, they have a 4×4, because the roads are looking pretty rough. Fortunately, it seems the problem of sewage flowing through the streets for years has been resolved.
But while you are out and about, take a look over the wall at the neglected field where the famous Barrydale Derby was played this year, with not a grandstand in sight. It sums up the state of affairs rather well.
Frankly, the biggest boost Die Rasper has received in recent times was the R50,000 injected into it by John Dobson and the Stormers.
Politicians will quickly point out that the sports fields are the responsibility of the rugby clubs. But on the books, they are municipal assets. The so-called tourism centre in Van Riebeeck Street is another white elephant that has yet to be addressed.
The old caravan park is also an eyesore. One can only wonder how tidy the town would be if it were not for organisations such as Let’s Clean Barrydale.
So, before you cast your vote, ask yourself the following question: Have Ikey Ferguson (ANC), Frans Kees (DA) or Amanda Swart (ANC) consistently had the community’s best interests at heart over the past four years? Were they leaders, or merely salaried office-bearers? These are fair questions.
Whatever you do, cast your vote where a small handout and a T-shirt will not blind you to the reality of the situation.
Remember, the town had three councillors who were supposed to be Barrydale’s voice on the other side of the mountain. That is three votes on an 11-member council, tasked with taking complaints to the authorities and ensuring progress for the poorest residents.
If you are satisfied with what they have achieved, support them again. If not, show them the door.
Questions that should no longer be ignored
News62’s ongoing reporting on Swellendam Municipality has, over the years, raised questions about governance, service delivery, financial accountability and the handling of investigations into alleged irregularities.
For Barrydale residents who have experienced the visible deterioration of their surroundings, the question is no longer simply who will be elected next. The question is whether those presenting themselves as leaders are prepared to account for their track records.
1. What have our councillors actually achieved for Barrydale?
Residents should not be satisfied with general promises of development, job creation and improved service delivery.
The learner’s licence testing centre remained closed for almost two years, without Ferguson, Kees or Swart publicly taking a position on the matter.
Before the previous election, there were promises that a business park would be developed in Smitsville. Take a look at what it looks like today. It is perhaps the best example of just how important Ward 2 is to the council.
The pothole crisis of roughly two years ago was brought to the council’s attention by Derek de Villiers of Country Pumpkin and, to some extent, Morris Riddles. According to the information available to us, no councillor played a leading role in addressing the matter.
Millions of rand (and we are talking serious money) were wasted on the refurbishment of Van Riebeeck Street, which, rather ironically, was one of the better stretches of tarred road in the town.
Community safety, particularly crime prevention, as well as solutions to the tik problem affecting numerous households, are issues that have largely been addressed by the private sector.
There is little meaningful progress to show for these efforts, and even fewer signs of strong leadership.
Where more than R2 million was previously spent on tourism development, very little funding from Swellendam Municipality’s budget has found its way to Barrydale. This includes approximately R100,000 allocated to the Barrydale Jazz & Brass Festival NPC, despite tourism being one of the town’s most important sources of income.
The reason, apparently, was cost-cutting. Yet there is money to launch one investigation after another. These investigations have allegedly recommended that officials be suspended or prosecuted, but nothing seems to happen.
Think carefully, Barrydale. You know the people who make the most noise, but whose contribution to the town’s progress remains open to question.
