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06/03/2008 11:24 AM - (SA) 'Why waste manpower?' 070308
We live adjacent to a public open space in Somerset West. Last week a municipal truck bearing three municipal workers arrived in the park. Two men emerged from the cab and walked about for about 10 minutes. The driver stayed put. Later, when I approached them, the driver also took his leave from the cab and stalked past me to view the area. When I asked about their presence, they told me they were inspecting the area for follow-up work, but not for that day, this would take place on a later date. We discussed various tasks that need attention, then they all climbed back into said truck and moved off. My questions: Why three men? Surely it only needs one pair of eyes? I have been told that there are so many classifications that, for example, a driver may not do anything else but drive. And he does just that. Oh, and speak on the walkie-talkie with the control room. Could a patrol not be backed up with a few chain saws to do the small jobs needed right there and then (then a large team need not arrive in force next week or whenever) or are the patrols only allowed to look and not work? Can we not multi-task a bit? In my mind it seems that it would be cost-effective to get the job done all in one. Next question: who is responsible for these areas - someone in the Helderberg branch of the City, or someone in the City itself? I am so sorry to see the general deterioration of areas of our town that are cared for by the municipality (broken street lights, roads, parks/gardens) when we hear and see so many folk that could use a job. Another question: what became of the plan to build a site for the unemployed to report to, and others to find someone for half-day jobs? Was that also shelved for being racist? My heart bleeds for those honest souls that stand and wait for jobs on the side of the road, but I feel I'd rather suffer a bleeding heart than lose more than that by bringing someone onto my property whose credentials are unknown to me, my family and neighbours. It is important to know what this R115 million is tagged for - if for salaries then we know that the situation will not improve - as there must be three earning a salary to drive from park to park on a daily basis. I also wondered what the municipality's role is in our town, if we continue to see privatisation increasing regularly (rubbish collection, tree-felling, volunteers gardening at the public library, a volunteer group basically running the Helderberg Nature Reserve?). Where have all the municipal folk gone to, and what is keeping them busy?
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