Promises, Promises (11 August 2009)

Written by TVSA Team from the blog 3rd Degree on 11 Aug 2009
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Coming up on 3rd Degree:

Episode Title: Promises, Promises
Broadcast date: 11 August 2009

In the past few weeks, violent protests over service delivery have erupted in townships around the country. It’s a familiar occurrence - protests followed by promises from local officials that things will improve. Then nothing happens.

So what are the real issues affecting the destitute people whose votes are not working for them?

Thelma lives in a shack in Thokoza, east of Johannesburg.15 years into democracy, she still has to walk over a kilometre to fetch water from a communal tap every day, while her makeshift toilet is an enclosed hole, dug with the help of a neighbour.

High profile politicians have once again made promises that they are listening to the desperate pleas of the people. 3rd Degree asks: will it be any different this time round? Are the well-publicised visits to protest hotspots by government leaders anything more than window dressing?

3rd Degree is on e.tv and the eNews Channel (DStv Channel 403) on Tuesday's at 21h30.

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11 Comments

Cande
11 Aug 2009 19:27

eish its bad how this people live, you know i am always complaining about my poor LSM statuses but when i see how some people live it makes me feel like am testing God because he has given me most of the stuff that some SA dont have

Mathaz
12 Aug 2009 14:03

High profile politicians have once again made promises that they are listening to the desperate pleas of the people

Tokyo Sexwale went a step further by spending the night in some shack in Diepsloot, that was a cheap publicity stunt and i wonder what promises he made to his hosts. Since the dawn of democracy we have been promised houses but alas we still live in shacks....

Thelma lives in a shack in Thokoza, east of Johannesburg.15 years into democracy, she still has to walk over a kilometre to fetch water from a communal tap every day, while her makeshift toilet is an enclosed hole, dug with the help of a neighbour. I have been fortunate enoght not to call a shanty shack my house and can only imagine what these people go through everyday whilst our politicians argue about how it's their right to purchase Mercs and any other luxury cars.....

Are the well-publicised visits to protest hotspots by government leaders anything more than window dressing? The president promised to visit to every hotspot and listen to their complaints. Yes we understand the problem lies with Councillors and Local Government but we have been taken for a ride for far too long, the government must also stop with their unrealistic promises and free this and free that mantra lest we raise a generation of entitlement.

realist
12 Aug 2009 14:27

Since the dawn of democracy we have been promised houses but alas we still live in shacks....
I have a slight problem when government dishes out houses for free. If somebody is living in a shack and you build him/her cement and mortar house and that person is still unemployed you still have not solved a problem.

Reason being that person is still without dignity, is still living in poverty and is still unemployed. What the government has done is increase the level of responsibility since that person has to pay for the services which will be rendered to him/her. How on earth will he/she able to pay for services?

the government must also stop with their unrealistic promises and free this and free that mantra lest we raise a generation of entitlement.
Could not have said it better myself.

Lbg
12 Aug 2009 14:32

I think the problem with the Government lies mainly with giving people tenders.I mean it's no secret that this people buy cheap materials and use that money to benefit their causes.Our President should look into tenders.

Mathaz
12 Aug 2009 14:56

Reason being that person is still without dignity, is still living in poverty and is still unemployed. Well it's proven that education can lift people from their dire situations. Now the government is proposing giving the unemployed a stipend.

Mathaz
12 Aug 2009 15:00

I think the problem with the Government lies mainly with giving people tenders Tenders to their friends, wives, relatives and themselves, indeed it should be looked at coz some people get tenders even if they know nothing about construction.

realist
12 Aug 2009 15:05

Now the government is proposing giving the unemployed a stipend.
What for? And who pays for it anyway?

Lbg
12 Aug 2009 15:14

Now the government is proposing giving the unemployed a stipend.
not on now we mus pay more of our monies
and dare not pay you taxes they come for you full force mara crime it's hard for them to get these criminals.

Mathaz
12 Aug 2009 15:53

"Work towards bolder expansion of unemployment insurance". From the ABC 2009 election Manifesto, i suppose the Treasury would know where the money would come from but yeah we are only waiting for the government to implement this decision.

Mathaz
12 Aug 2009 15:54

From the ANC 2009 election manifesto.....

Cande
12 Aug 2009 16:01

Shem the poor woman cried and said she asks God everyday to take her & her children..Shem i shed a tear

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