Page 5 - 05 December 2025

THE REPORTER 5 DECEMBER 2025 · PAGE 5

Three photographs of the
buildings at the School’s
sport terrain. I remember
how proud the community
was of these facilities and
they were used by many
sport’s clubs. They cannot
even risk repairing them, as
they are immediately
vandalised!

This is what remains of the MOTH Hall and the caravan park ablutions.
As mentioned in a previous Take note how few trees are left standing in an area once referred by
article, all trash piles have locals and the “plantation”. This caravan park was once a popular stop
small beginnings and if over and base for tourists visiting the area. People working for a length of
unchecked soon become time, also stayed here, safely and comfortably. For example the German
h u g e o n e s a n d t h e “School Nurse” of days gone by and her German Shepherd dog always
increasing number of rats stayed here during her visits to the area.
that come to feed on them
soon reaches epidemic
proportions.
The trash pile of destruction
is another pile that started
small, but as it was never
sufficiently dealt with, has
now become a major
problem. If we can use our
own community as an
example, we will recall that a The sight of these once beautiful buildings is a picture of what is happening
whole Community Hall was throughout our country at the moment. People take and break with no
totally destroyed with the consequences to their actions. Where are our authorities?
start of a small tap, a door, a financial burden on us all. Farmers are crying out for
ceiling board, a floor board Money must be found to pay more grazing (more land)
and the feeding frenzy grew, for these replacements, when the biggest problem is
it was not long and the whole which results in less money the influx of more and more
building disappeared. being spent on other much- individuals (many not South
needed essential services.
The same sequence of African citizens), misusing of the total disregard of laws we can at least leave some of How do we teach people to
events has taken place with The reluctance of our the grazing rights and and regulations that are in the beauty for the next see and appreciate?
so many other facilities like authorities to take action abusing the system. No place to protect our flora and generation to enjoy.
our Caravan Park and the against the destruction of matter how much ground is fauna. Let us work together to That wanton destruction
destruction of our local infrastructure has now bought or acquired, it will The authorities who are in eradicate this trash pile of affects us all.
Sports' Field infrastructure. created a massive burden. never solve the problem if power, do not enforce these DESTRUCTION. How can What is it we need to do?
The trash pile that started the mismanagement is not we teach people to build and Take a stand and make it
The Joe Gqabi District small has now grown into the addressed. We have Munici- laws and regulations and are
Municipality recently made pal grazing regulations, a reluctant to do so, creating preserve instead of breaking known that destruction is not
an appeal to the public to sorry sight that we are faced Department of Agriculture the impression that the down and destroying? OK.
w i t h e a c h d a y. T h e
please stop vandalizing authorities are no longer with Extension Officers and a status quo is the norm.
essential services infra- able to shoo away all the rats. Commonage Manager, who We make an appeal to our
structure and stealing and are supposed to be the authorities to please do
vandalising equipment at Another sorry sight we are guardians of our environ- something about this ugly
their pump stations that faced with every day is the ment to ensure that this kind sight of destruction and
supply water to the town. For destruction of our environ- of abuse does not occur. abuse of our facilities and
many years, we, the public ment, the destruction of our They should ensure that we, natural heritage. Let us
have been reporting these beautiful surroundings, the the custodians, will leave a preserve and not break down
incidents with little or no total disregard for this heritage for the next and destroy our heritage, so
response, in fact have been heritage and what we are generation.
asked if the property belongs going to pass on to the next
to us? The answer is no, it generation. The question If unchecked and if our
does not belong to one has to be asked, what do we authorities continue to be
individual it belongs to the do when we have destroyed mute on this matter, we are
community and is for the everything around us and going to have a growing
benefit of us all. Every time a what do we leave for the next trash pile that is going to
facility or equipment is van- generation? Our com- attract even more and more
dalized or destroyed it affects monage is an example of individuals who join this
us all. In many circum- what happens when nature feeding frenzy of abuse,
stances the structure or is abused to such an extent exacerbating the problem
equipment must be replaced that it can no longer carry we already have. The
to continue fulfilling its the strain that has been Environment at present is
function, which places a placed on it. Our local Small under great threat because