(Below is the verbatim press release from the Nelson Mandela Bay Communications Department – upon first read words failed me, my heart beat a bit faster, a smile came to my face and I clapped my hand over my mouth to stifle chuckles!)
Although the Nelson Mandela Bay Ratepayers Association never even bothered to follow the laws of our democratic South Africa by notifying authorities of an upcoming protest, word of their intention to bring 20 bus loads of protestors to disrupt the passing of the city’s R8 billion budgets was not the best kept secret.
Known for its ability to prepare for the unforeseen, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality started to put measures in place to prepare for this major influx of members of the ratepayers association, claimed to be 120 businesses and 160 individuals, and dissident residents from Motherwell who would apparently join them in their crusade to stop a pro-poor fully cash-backed budget from being passed.
It was also the first time that the combined budgets for a financial year reached R8 billion since the municipality was formed on 5 December 2000.
I (Kupido Baron) was informed to make an urgent plan to implement an accreditation system for journalists and quickly jumped. If and when Safety and Security speaks you listen!
People were requested to be seated at 09:45 sharp, the South African Police Services Tactical Response Unit was requested to be on high alert and the crowd barriers were put in place to ensure the safety of all in attendance.
Then the wait……. and unfortunately Kobus Gerber and his much anticipated march never happened. Much like Samuel Beckett’s famous play Waiting for Godot.
Pity, since it would have been the first time that both white and black members of the Nelson Mandela Bay community protested against the passing of a budget of which 80% would be spent in underdeveloped wards of Nelson Mandela Bay. History could have been made. It would have made history since the protest of a deliberate pro-poor budget should meet the sky-scraping requirements of fast-tracking service delivery.
Editors Notes: In life we each have a place and a duty. Communications duty is to disseminate information for others to publish, report and comment on. The communications department now appears to be doing exactly what the media are accused of doing – jumping to conclusions, using their platform to discredit people, showing a distinct bias against certain groups of people and naming and shaming.
You guys are treading thin ground here. Time to do what you have been employed to do and communicate – leave the pontificating to those that have the mandate to do so.
By the way Kupido – the 80/20 principle was in place for the last budget as well and since when would the meeting of minds between citizens be an historical occasion? And, whilst I am about it why make the distinction between black and white members of the Nelson Mandela Bay community?
Methinks that the so called communications department has now done a sterling job in sowing bigger seeds to further discontent and protest.
NMB Communications
Latest posts by NMB Communications (see all)
- Join The Celebration - 26 February 2025
- 6 Municipal Employees Supended - 15 January 2025
- Fishwater Flats Wastewater Treatment Plant Work Progressing Well - 10 January 2025
- Kliprand Protest Brings Action - 7 January 2025
- Mayor Tells Us Why We Had a Successful Festive Season in Nelson Mandela Bay - 6 January 2025
The metro communications department should stick to reporting facts and disseminating relevant information. The poorly written and clearly biased “editorial” (and I use the term loosely) is nothing short of an embarrassment to our city administration. They all apparently went to the Edgars school of Journalism…
So what are they actually trying to say here…That they were able to keep the protesters away? Thats nothing to boast about. Their job is to communicate, not play boogeyman.
So this is the quality of Municipal staff, that the rate payers of Port Elizabeth pay for. The rate payers association would not have been formed if the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) was running smoothly or if the RATE PAYERS were convinced that their hard earned money was being spent wisely and not being squandered. Memories of the fat Johnny Walker Blue and Black parties from World Cup 2010 are still very vivid in my mind.
Mr Baron, before launching into another us and them match, please spare a thought for your Employers, the Rate Payers of Port Elizabeth, these are the people whom you ought to be keeping satisfied and not annoying with your verbiage!
Time for us, as financiers of this metro to fire these idiots. They treat their masters as their servants.
Time to give them a swift reality check and to bring accountability back into fashion.
Just occurred to me – Cupido rhymes with Stupido – wear the hat!
Looks like Kupido is getting a verbal lashing in the comments today. Come on people build up – don’t break down.
What we need in SA, is a better quality of individual being allowed to get into politics. You can’t build a palace out of sh!t…
A protest that they weren’t informed about never happened… Huh?