I postulate that in the period between 2000 to 2011, Matlosana had many positive developments such as the seamless amalgamation of four municipalities; economic stability and prosperity; democratic and accountable governance; provision of basic services; promotion of safe and healthy environment; community participation, infrastructure development many others developments. All these could collectively be regarded as the confluence of encouraging possibility for the city of Matlosana – the city of people.
Unfortunately, all these positives seem to have quickly dissipating and if truth is to be told, the last few years are memorable for wrong reasons: factional wrangling and infightings, theft, pillage, patronage, corruption, electricity outages, service delivery crisis and precipitous economic decline – the net effect being the crushing of post-apartheid aspirations constructed from 1994 which included to create a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous society in Matlosana.
This can be analogised by 1859 historical novel of Charles Dickens called “A Tale of Two Cities”:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way ……”
While Matlosana is not yet suffering from terminal illness, a sort of creeping paralysis afflicting it could soon become terminal unless treated with utmost urgency. I posit that the city suffers from a serious infection and something has ruptured and is leaking infected fluid throughout its anatomy. It is an infection of corruption and greed, worsened by a predatory elitism which has a wrong conception of morality and accountability and if the infection is not addressed, it will degenerate further and destroy the country.
Cry the Beloved City!
By China Dodovu – former Executive Mayor of the City of Matlosana
