As in tradition in the house of Straton, the Longhair and I took a walk along the beachfront on New Years Day. What a joy to see our fellow Africans soaking up the sun and having a jolly old time.
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Alan Straton
Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth.
Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
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Your article is astounding!…… Why not walk this morning and see the aftermath of the enjoyment?…. Disgusting litter, broken bottles, empty/broken alcohol bottles ….. Where was the policing?…. Never mind the lack of ablution facilities!…..disgusted PE resident….. Sadly so as we have cemented our position as the worst SA has to offer in so many respects …… Or without I should say!!!!!
If you expect K*K you will see K*K. Why does everything have to be about how sh*tty everything is after someone else has had fun? If we all opt to actually enjoy the day with our fellow Africans and NOT hide in our homes penning Letters of Outrage to the Editor then maybe we too can contribute to being part of the solution and developing people to take care of the environment.
All we read and see in traditional media is the shock, gasp, horror stuff of seething masses on the beaches, drownings, lost children, drunkenness and litter in the aftermath.
Nowhere do we read about people seizing the initiative and simply enjoying the day with fellow citizens. Surely after so many years of democracy we should be over the us and them talk that is so prevalent around such events?
We have done this walk for years and never felt intimidated or unwelcome – curious kids and their parents are always most welcoming and we remarked this year that the numbers were down, litter down and the number of pale Africans up. Little steps I am sure but ones that cement our love for our fellow citizens no matter what their perceived faults or foibles.
We walked in the early afternoon and saw less than 10 people visibly drunk, one guy ‘over vaterig’ and orderly queues everywhere we went. There were officials and security everywhere we walked. They were checking bags and, we presume, turning visibly drunk people away from certain areas.
Sure, a lot of the parking was not legal, the traffic a nightmare and the pace leisurely but we did not once feel that someone was about to remove stuff from our person or assault us in any manner.
In hindsight I thought the article a pretty ordinary and pedestrian reflection of a lovely day in the sun.
Please remember that everyone has a mess that has to be cleaned up after a party – whether it is at home, at work, at school or anywhere else in public.
Great response. I have seen a theatre after a movie, Loftus after a rugby games ….
Hi…..I don’t like K*K as you put it thanks…..please re-read my comment as I referred to the 2nd of January!… Guilt driven whitewash me thinks?
Realist.
How many days did it take to clean the beachfront?
How many years has it taken to clear this plot: http://mype.co.za/new/erf-951-framesby/44003/2014/12
The petty moans about the beachfront pale in comparison.
Ab this is Africa. If you don’t like it then leave. I don’t like pollution on the beach but I also walked on the beach front and it was relatively clean. Well done to the metro for ensuring that it was clean. We need to live together. Btw I am also white- not that it should matter. O and female.
To: Alan i really like your article the privileged South Africans like myself can afford to go to the beach everyday i have once lived at the beaches opposite Cubana however growing up i never had such privileges as we had to save the whole year for only going to the beach on the 1st of Jan as so as to so many families from not only black townships as well as coloured townships.
The more i grew and the more privileges i gained i explore many sides of PE and many fantastic beach front areas one could explore as unfortunately not many people from where i grew up had the exposure i have manage to be exposed too. I would most certainly urge people like AB to please be accommodating to us as well as this only happens once a year and together these people add so much value to rates and taxes of the city than the minority that is forever complaining about our people’s well deserving privileges non of us ever complains about the robots that are constantly driven through by privileged young people coming from Balizza we understand that it is an accident and many other faults the cause around the city.
To make this our country work we must all tolerate one another and when we stand together it is only then we can make our country great!!!! Thank you Alan