PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK
Dear Johann and Irma Coetzee of Henley-on-Klip. I’m sure you must be thrilled that your letter to the editor was published in the latest Platteland magazine. Such an achievement, and I really am so sorry that you were reduced to tears so often. Hopefully you had some tissues in the car with you.
Being an ex-Joburger (and now proud Richmond “inkommer”) whose parents stay in the DA-controlled municipality of Midvaal, I know exactly where your quasi-English countryside village of Henley-on-Klip is located. Compared to where you live, the Karoo and its dorpies must be quite a shock. No manicured green pavements, pretty houses supported by families making lots of money, and heaven forbid no townships with RDP houses in view at all.
You see, besides being in one of the worst droughts in history, most of our towns have municipalities that have collapsed due to corruption and mismanagement. That hasn’t stopped these dorpies having very active resident associations who – out of their own pocket – carry out tasks like
