By BONGANI MADEVU
2 May 2025- Dear Mr Rantsho Gincane, I hope this finds you well. This would be my second public apology to you. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me.
Growing up in Mamusa, I was fortunate enough to have known your Boy Akapana “Tumi” during my high school days. We would go to town as a class, if not two classes, saying we are going kobo Wezy ( referring to the Library and the park both clean and green).
You did not know many of us, but not even once did you look down on us. My point is, at a personal level, I do not have anything against you Papa Ga Tumi.
It is also politically rude and uncalled for to be calling leaders of your calibre, Rantsho Gincane, lack of respect. Given that, I’m also a human and not immune to any form of mistakes.
Politically or otherwise, neither do I pose any monopoly of wisdom.
POLITICALLY
Mr Gincane, irrespective of how many are in denial about your administration including me, I have come to a realization that I was wrong about your administration. In fact, your administration is the best compared to many.
You are not an administrative saint. There will be shortcomings, even in the best developed public administration states in the world such as Sweden, there are hiccups.
The reason I am now fully supporting your reinstatement is that you are the first Municipal Manager at Mamusa Local Municipality post-apartheid to have brought infrastructure in the township, where the majority of our people can access it. You gave us an adequate library near all schools, adequate multi-purpose, which was a great idea.
Post-apartheid, you have increased the availability of electricity into households, especially in informal settlements. Out of jealousy and sabotage, many stood in the way of ensuring that Mamusa became one the first paved throughout the province.
In fact, the national government started loving your idea of a pavement because it is suitable, thus the Minister of Transport used pavement to sustain the N12 route T-junction between Wolmaranstad and Klerksdorp to Schweizer Reneke. It was during your administration that we saw high employment opportunities, be it permanent or temporary.
This one is important, out of all Municipal Managers in the country, you are the only one who never drove a luxury car, yet boldly accused you of embezzlement. You never left your people and went straight to fancy new townhouses at the expense of the taxpayers’ money.
The reason why your administration cannot get a clean audit is because of poor revenue divisions laws, which the national parliament has to address. The intergovernmental relation is failing municipalities throughout the country.
I wish I could expand on this, but it will consume much time. Ke mang Mr Mabokela ene?
You know, I just realized that deployed ANV cadre from nowhere is sabotaging our hometown, which we all love. You know I just realized that Mr Mabokela terminated EPWP programs, which were meant to abolish and root out hunger.
His faction is increasing our unemployment rate in a place, where there are few opportunities and some do not have the privilege to seek greener pastures elsewhere. Imagine, if one person works at EPWP and has a household of seven people and you terminate the contract?
That decision will affect seven people, who are completely depending on that individual. So, if you terminate over 100 jobs, where will they go?
After your term, you will be going to your hometown, leaving us to deal with your mess.
Bagolo, go botlhoko gore baeteledipele ba rona ba senngwa (destoeweng) ka ntlheng ya gore gona le batho, kgotsa motho o a batlang ale one, motho o competeng a batle gore gohle go tlage ene ale one.
My fellow people guard against propaganda. To those who are confused, I’m not a friend of party politics, I’m guided by left ideologies without any fear of contraction. I’m a Marxist.
Bye Batsi and his crew
Your comrade
Bongani Madevu
(Note: The views or content raised in this article does not necessarily represent The Guardian Newspaper or its associates. The content remains of the author and The Guardian Newspaper does not agree nor disagree with it.)
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