RESIDENT SPEAKS OUT: Retired teacher Joe Slingers talks about education problems and other issues faced by Uitenhage residents during a community dialogue at the Uitenhage Town Hall this week. Picture: BRIAN WITBOOI
ONCE known as South Africa’s garden town, boasting serene flower beds and a vibrant industrial economy, Uitenhage is now beset by drugs, crime and grinding poverty.
Many of its people say the once-prized historic town has, over the years, fallen off the development radar of Nelson Mandela Bay’s politicians.
Residents are angry and desperate. They feel deserted and want change.
Speaking at a community dialogue at the Uitenhage Town Hall on Monday night, retired teacher Joe Slingers said: “You can’t leave your windows [open]; you can’t walk in the streets alone.
“Almost daily you hear about people being assaulted, violated in the most inhumane way.
“Uitenhage was once . . . known as the garden town and you wonder what happened.”
One after the other, residents spoke of a systemic breakdown in communication between communities and those elected to lead them.
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