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The Time for Political Party Bashing has Begun

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With the date for the Local General Elections having been announced for 27 October 2021 th epolitical party bashing season is upon us. Frankly that exercise is one that is just too easy to do – in some way it is the lazy man’s way of getting noticed. And, of course – everyone has faults.

Inspiration for this came from a comment I read on HeraldLive which said; “Where the ANC governs in the Eastern Cape it has mostly failed to deliver services, with its councillors instead creating chaos and anarchy in municipalities.”

Now I have a certain amount of empathy and understanding for the ANC who did not have the best of teachers in the past – the party of apartheied, the National Party. And, of course the National Party had the super smooth colonialists as dubious teachers before that.

So, in reply, I say:

Let’s not just focus on one party – most of our Political Parties have failed due to an approach that is a legacy of former governments stretching back hundreds of years.

Most political parties assume that it is their right to ‘mess’ with good administration done by municipal employees with years of experience and qualifications.

The atmosphere created within our municipalities is one of “if you didn’t vote for me or my party your head is on the chopping block” INSTEAD of “if you do not perform in the service of our City and Citizens your head is on the chopping block”.

Our Citizens and Municipal Employees are tired of living in fear of not being seen to be aligned with the RIGHT connections.

As citizens we abdicate our responsibility to so-called leaders every single election and then spend 5 years moaning until the next and then RINSE and REPEAT.

We need to change our political landscape by stepping out of the comfort zone of voting the same fools in every year and rather choosing other fools who actually will put our City first, who will support another parties idea/proposal if it is one that will be good for our City as a whole.

We need fools who will ask themselves one question every time they deal with decisions affecting Nelson Mandela Bay by asking one question every time a vote is taken; “Will this be good and bring prosperity to Nelson Mandela Bay?”

We need to AIM to change the political landscape with a locally focused movement that does not report to Luthuli House or other Head Office.

Our local rates and other local taxes and services pay our Councillors and we need to ensure that the portion of money tithed by councillor’s to their political party is used LOCALLY and not sent to a Head Office for the NATIONAL general coffers.

#aim4change

Ward 7 Independent Councillor

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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." See more articles by Alan.