The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC) has noted, with great concern, the increased number of reports on the rampant destruction of infrastructure in the city. What is more alarming is the lack of clear solutions proposed by the municipality to halt this trend.
More recently, the destruction has risen to unacceptable levels, leading to the NMBBC being inundated by businesses seeking assistance on these matters. Alarmingly, a high volume of inquiries has been about the continued loss of electricity supply in the past six weeks.
This loss of supply has seriously caused massive business interruption, leading to multimillion-rand losses. Some of our manufacturers have had to face stiff penalties for missing their international delivery deadlines.
This comes at a time when quite a number of businesses have closed doors due to the impact of the pandemic, thus increasing unemployment numbers in the region. The business chamber condemns such self-inflicted destruction on the local economy.
While the City has ageing infrastructure, it has also emerged that vandalism and theft from municipal substations have worsened the situation. We strongly condemn this new form of lawlessness threatening the various investments forming part of the backbone of the city’s economy.
Ease of doing business has been a fundamental issue of concern in the city for some time now and such vandalism can only worsen the business environment. While the business chamber wants to work with the municipality to deal with this vandalism of substations, we call upon the municipality to show leadership in the preservation and maintenance of the local infrastructure.
As if the above is not enough, the business chamber reads about the decision of the metro to demolish the braai facilities along the beachfront. This action defies all logic. It is inexplicable and should not have been carried out — whatever the reason. The destruction of property in the manner it was done — and for the reasons advanced — is unpardonable. We condemn it the strongest possible terms.
This sends a wrong signal to those who have been destroying public property. It also displays lack of respect for public property and the rights and interests of all other law-abiding citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay.
This, in a city which has seen its infrastructure destroyed over time. This action displays a lack of long-term vision and a myopic view of what is in the long-term interests of the citizens. That level of thinking is rather worrisome, as it does not inspire confidence in major decisions that need to be taken to rebuild the economy.
Those beachfront facilities have been a long-standing symbol of how citizens enjoy the beautiful lifestyle offered by the city’s amenities. This flies in the face of development and progress. Instead of destroying property, the city should be building facilities for the enjoyment of both the citizens and tourists.
This city has been targeted by vandals, who continue to strip community and public property bare.
This action by the city begs the question: What is the difference between the vandals and the metro decision- makers? If this is the blueprint and example, the city leaders have to offer, then woe unto all of us.
This obsession with trying to control people’s behaviour because of Covid-19 has to come to an abrupt end. Covid-19 was a shock and a huge crisis in the beginning of 2020. It no longer is. At the time, none of us (globally) knew what it was, how it was spread, how it could be prevented, what impact it would have on every aspect of life (business or personal).
Now we have all those answers to those questions. Awareness happened at many levels. Huge sums of money and other resources were spent on providing protective equipment, refurbishing hospitals, launching awareness campaigns and many other related activities. The business chamber played a critical role in all the above.
Isn’t it time that people are now held responsible for their own behaviour? Shouldn’t people be expected to take personal responsibility for their own health and that of their families? People have stared death in the face; they have witnessed levels and frequency of death beyond any imagination.
Do we believe that removing — destroying — braai facilities on a beachfront is going to be an effective deterrent? It is our submission that this action has achieved the opposite of what may have been the desired effect.
Let us not promote the characteristics of running a nanny state.
The city needs to acknowledge that the decision and action was incorrect and take full responsibility for such action — and in fact restore those facilities by salvaging whatever is left, for re-use.
This is a time to look forward and hold metro officials accountable to service delivery.
Current investors must have a sense that their investments will not be eroded by lack of service delivery.
Business is ready to do business. We are just waiting for a conducive environment in which to do so.
The business chamber will raise these and other critical matters with the mayor and his team at our meeting next week. Let’s get the city working!