HAVING visited Pot Elizabeth over the festive season, I read the letter from Roger Belford, of Ward 32 ("Councillor's ward causes a stink", December 31).
I was disgusted to see the city that I once was proud of in such a filthy state.
There is the main road leading to most of the northern suburbs, known as Stanford Road, which I travelled along on December 24 from the N2.
The last time I had been to Port Elizabeth over the festive season was 15 years ago and Gelvan Park was fairly clean. As my trip continued north, the sight of plastic bags got worse, stuck to the razor wire of the Gelvan sportsfield and the stadium I remember being called "The Track".
Helenvale was the limit.
I was embarrassed because of strangers to Port Elizabeth I had with me. I noticed some of the community members had started to burn some of the rubbish which was piled up next to a locked dump yard at the end of Helenvale on Stanford Road, on the left.
Windvogel was no better.
I am not affiliated to any political party, but is this what I hear all along about "a better life for all"?
Another area where I noticed dirt was on the Schauderville side, as I linked up with the N2 from Stanford Road westwards – Parkside on the right and Schauderville to the left. Schauderville was where I spent my childhood days and it seemed as if there is a dumpsite above the N2.
Parkside and Schauder ratepayers' associations, I recommend you make a noise about the eyesore.
Durban Road, at the far end, close to Mercantile Hospital, looked like a slum.
I was saddened by kids playing in and around those piles of rubbish. For my entire stay, December 24 to January 2, nothing changed on Stanford Road nor Durban Road.
My concern is: will something ever change for those communities? Frankly speaking, I cannot see anything improved for those communities since I left Port Elizabeth 20 years ago.
To those who travel this route daily, has the rubbish become a norm and nobody makes a noise to get those communities out of this mess, or get the mess cleaned up around them?
Those communities obviously don't pay rates. If they do, not much, thus not getting a proper service delivery.
Remember, their medical treatment will be from your taxes.
Councillors, the Health Department, Tourism Department, Education Department and cleansing department should get their act together.
Make me proud, Port Elizabeth.
Sarchie (surname supplied), Cape Town
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