I don’t know if I must react in anger, be disgusted or just merely disappointed after reading the article published in Weekend Post of September 8, “Turncoats rip into DA coalition”.
Surely something is drastically wrong?
The two DA councillors have turned against not only the party they belonged to, but in a sense, against the people of the northern areas, who worked hard to campaign for the DA to win the elections in ward 35 and 37.
They have not only broken the trust of the people, but in the process broken faith in the party they represent.
Those two councillors need to be reminded that they were representing communities and not themselves.
The trust that the people put in them has helped them to acquire the salaries they were enjoying every month – and that with perks as well.
Has it entered into the minds of these councillors that they are playing a dangerous game or, shall I say, they turned it into a dirty game – as if it was not dirty enough. They obviously became a part of the problem and not the solution.
It seems as if they too had gripes with former mayor Athol Trollip. Maybe the mayor was seeing to it that they performed their tasks and kept them accountable.
Much to their dislike, they might not have enjoyed the constant watching that went on over their shoulders.
Or, can I surmise that there was something that was going to be offered them that they could not resist?
Were they thinking that come next election that is how they would try and sway votes, just so another party could win over the northern areas through fostering relationships with people of the communities?
They, therefore, secured their cosy jobs through another party.
May I remind them the residents of the northern areas who voted for the DA are not pawns on a chess board.
We knew what we were voting for and we knew who we wanted to lead our wards and our city.
And now I speak to councillor Trevor Louw of ward 35. I am deeply troubled about this matter. On August 29 he put up a Facebook posting , the caption reading “STILL MY MAYOR #STANDWITHATHOL#”.
This was the content: “I stand with mayor Athol Trollip and the DA-led coalition government against the cabal that wants to steal back our beloved Nelson Mandela Bay.”
But just two weeks down the line he denounces Trollip and becomes a part of the “cabal”.
Councillor Louw, where was your allegiance all the time?
Were you playing a game of heads I win, tails you lose?
Well, it is evident the way you sold out the DA party.
You did not consult with the people of the communities who elected you into the position as ward councillor.
You were the DA’s selected candidate, whether most residents approved of you or not.
They stood by you. You campaigned to have a bigger ward when the demographics of the wards were changed.
You not only sold the northern areas out but you sold out the city as well.
If you had any regard for the city and its people you would have given thought to the consequences of your actions and the negative impact upon the residents who voted for the DA.
All that you are interested in is yourself and your power play.
Did you not feel like a sell-out sitting in that meeting knowing that your colleagues were on the outside fighting a cause for justice?
Or were you scared you would lose your salary, then jumped on the bandwagon?
Or what other portfolio were you offered or aspiring to but could not attain – or were you tired of the mundane work of being a councillor?
Wake up, the coffee is burning. You will burn your fingers.
I had the greatest respect for you. I thought you were a man of integrity but obviously I was wrong.
Strange that things like this had to happen for people to see who you really are.
You have truly made a mockery of the residents of ward 35 and our beloved city – the city we grew up in.
A chameleon changes its colour easily.
I believe you have changed yours too, or, did we as the residents of ward 35 and Port Elizabeth really know you?
Believe me, now we do – a man of many facades who lacks value and character.
- Resident of Heath Park, ward 35