It's not all doom & gloom here my friend! The tourism destinations are well maintained and safe, so no fear there, likely because they provide employment for local residents. Although crime has increased, the suburbs are relatively safe, we just cannot leave gates open. Security gates on our doors have also become a way of life.
Some of the appalling infrastructure in the township areas, courtesy of the Apartheid government, have been improved but the deeper one drives into those areas, the worst it gets, absolutely deplorable conditions! About 3 years ago hubby had to go into some of the informal settlements to do assessments of buildings following storm damage.
The government had made funds available but the only people who benefited, were the engineering companies who 'won' the tenders. Hubby walked off the job as he could see they were never going to do the restoration!
He received a call about a year later from one of the residents with whom he liaised when going in there, & the guy said they had still not done anything! Heartbreaking!
Yes, September seems to be a month with many big events as @fionasfavourites shared in her #bom.
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Not all doom and gloom, that's a good thing.
After your husband heard from the gentleman that he was working with say that conditions were the same, he must have been very disappointed, but happy he didn't waste any more of his time. It's always a good thing to know when it's time to through in the towel.
This is a country of enormous paradoxes and with one of the highest, if not the highest inequality index in the world. There are some parts of the country that are safe and pristine, while others - and certain parts of cities (like every city), aren't. We do have significant problems - like the power grid - but I have to believe that as the evidence presented to, and recommendations of, the commission into state capture are acted upon, I am hopeful. It will, however, take time to repair the carnage of Zuma's nine wasted years.
I've become really disillusioned with government departments. Home affairs is the worst, it's becoming almost impossible to apply for basic documents like birth certificates, passports & ID's.
As for Ethekwini Municipality, they used to offer good services but their call centre mostly don't answer their phones nowadays!
My friend whose home was destroyed by the storm had to pay a water bill of just over R15 000, prior to the storm, after the Municipality installed a new water meter which started leaking on the day of installation.
Despite reporting this immediately (with difficulty), they only arrived 11 days later to repair it, therefore the huge bill which had to be paid as they came to cut off their water AND electricity supply, as it's one bill!
We all pay insurance for water loss to the municipal insurer, a good thing when it used to work, BUT the new 'insurer' simply does not process valid claims from many residents we've spoken to, ourselves included!
Durban no longer is a city to be proud of!
Perhaps too many of Zuma's cronies were given top positions, hence the lackadaisical attitude of not delivering basic services.
It doesn't surprise us when we see the service delivery protests turning ugly as those poor people in the informal settlements live in deplorable conditions with raw sewerage often running in the streets and sometimes through their 'homes.' The squatter areas are even worse.
We only see or hear about it on the news, but the rot that's crept in, is spreading and is going to take many many years to fix.
As someone said, the Cape has become the last outpost in SA, as things are still running as it should.
A move down there perhaps?
I have to say that I stay as far away as possible from any bureaucracy - insurers, government departments, banks - as I can. When I have to, and I've had to stop one of my bank cards because of fraud, I put it off until I just have to. Urgh! I don't think we're alone though....
We've had to deal with too much of that since 2020!
My driver's license also expired as well as my bank card so...more queues! I should use a walking stick then I may just get served sooner🙈