Dear Mr Greaver,
I visited my hometown of Polokwane over the Festive Season and have just arrived back in Cape Town where I work. I had the opportunity to visit many places during my two weeks in Polokwane and have observed a phenomenal growth of the town and was pleased.
While I marvelled at the growth of the town, I was extremely irked by the following issues which, I believe, are sentiments shared by many residents of the town:
1. Indiscriminate posting of adverts
Advertisements have been affixed, pasted, glued or hanged on every lamppost, electrical substation, signage and certain walls (see the building at the corner of Rissik and Dahl). These are adverts for “abortions”, “penis enlargement”, Solly Moholo or Oleseng are undeniably an eyesore. Curiously the perpetrators have provided their contact numbers on these adverts but no action is taken against them! Surely the city can create public notice boards to mitigate this scourge?
2. Potholes
Every street has a fair share of potholes. There is ample proof that certain streets have never known maintenance in a long while! Please visit the following streets at the two extremes of Polokwane viz 23”54’07.33”S and 29”29’13.60”E on the one hand and 23”54’06.82”S and 29”26’38.11”E on the other.
3. Informal trading
There is every indication that the city has adopted a laissez-faire approach towards informal traders. Given the fact that formal traders pay rates and taxes, you will agree that some form of regulation is not only necessary, but desirable. Many of the streets resemble Abidjan and Lagos (apologies to our African brothers and sisters)! How else do you explain the mess along these streets? 23”54’18.43”S and 29”26’58.45”E as well as 23”54’04.40”S and 29”26’45.92”E. Please designate sufficient sustainable areas for informal trading to allow our jobless masses earn a living.
4. Traffic rules
A dangerous culture seems to have permeated your city with many drivers beginning to associate the amber light with green light for “go” whilst red is taken for amber! Over time, this culture will surely create problems for visitors who are accustomed to law and order. Like you Freddy, I love this city and would like it to see it remain the best city in our province and perhaps country!
Sydney, Milnerton, Cape Town
