Tag Archives: infrastructure

Give Us a Simple Budget About Our Lives

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Do you identify your life with any of these issues? This may be about Knysna Budget 2017-2018 but i’m betting that many of you readers, no matter where you live, will relate to some of the points i’m making. This is about municipal loans, wasted monies, rental crisis, education to attract investment, the environment, tourism, potholes, public participation, transparency and the contribution of ratepayers who are seemingly disrespected by being kept in the dark. Attention: Acting Municipal Manager Johnny Douglas, Chief Financial Officer Mbulelo Memani, Mayor Eleanore Spies, Speaker Georlene … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna Infrastructure Problems Continue…

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The poor state of Knysna’s infrastructure is an ongoing concern to citizens. This is a follow-up to ‘Knysna’s Festive Season of Falling Apart’ in which i listed 18 electrical and water outages during the holidays. The bulk of the tourists may be gone but problems have continued. INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS CONTINUE Jan 19 – Water Outage Belvidere Jan 18 – Power outage in Belvidere, Knysna Heights and Hornlee Jan 18 – Power outage Kanonkop Jan 17 – Water outage in Upper Olde Place Jan 16 – Power outage in Sedgefield. Restored … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Big Shops Destroying Knysna’s Infrastructure

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Big shops and big trucks are destroying Knysna Municipality’s infrastructure. Pedestrians and drivers aren’t safe until Pick ‘n Pay and Checkers get control over delivery vehicles. Why are they seemingly allowed to obstruct roads and park on pavements with impunity? The situation at Pick ‘n Pay, on the corner of Long and Rawson Streets is sometimes severe. In the holidays, trucks totally took over the walkway and blocked traffic so that pedestrians dodged offloaders and cars took dangerous chances, overtaking in the wrong lane. What drove me over the edge … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna’s Festive Season of Falling Apart

Mike Hampton Posted on by

“IT’S BROKEN” must’ve been the slogan for Knysna’s festive season. Before i comment, consider the known list of breakages: December 17 2016 – No water to parts of Central town December 17 2016 – No water to Knysna Quays December 17 2016 – Pipe under Knysna Estuary bursts December 18 2016 – No water in Central in area of Gordon, Grey & Trotter St December 20 2016 – Pipe burst in Wilson Street, Hunter’s Home December 20 2016 – No water in Eastford Country Estate December 20 2016 – No … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

My Knysna Breakdown Heart

Mike Hampton Posted on by

MY KNYSNA BREAKDOWN HEART When did I become a one-stop, a holiday breakdown flop? In my pipes, roots rip my heart Under tourists, my roads fall apart In the dark, humans are powerless and government always faultless Look closely at me and you’ll see that the hurting Knysna I am isn’t the town I used to be… isn’t the town I KNOW I CAN BE. (towards overcoming our infrastructure crisis) READ ‘KNYSNA’S FESTIVE SEASON OF FALLING APART’

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The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Kudos to Knysna ElectroTechnical Services!

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Knysna ElectroTechnical Services to the rescue. My neighbour in Kanonkop experienced a broken water pipe above his house. The result was a waterfall! In search of the source, i got scratched by thorns as i climbed 50m up a steep, bushy hill. It gave me an appreciation for some of the challenges municipal employees face. Our severely understaffed ElectroTechnical Services department makes me wonder how it continues to operates. Consequently, i was amazed by the receptionist’s efforts to find a manager… who was at my door within 15 minutes! Deeply … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

The Challenge of a Water Pipe Burst

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The challenges of maintaining infrastructure was given a new twist after the Knysna-Plett Herald reported that a Knysna plumber had discovered a water pipe burst 1.5m below the bed of the Salt River (although shallow, it’s only accessible during low tide). Although Knysna Municipality was quick on the scene after it was reported, no one knows how long the pipe was broken. If the estimate of 100 litres of water loss per minute is correct, that would amount to 6 000 liters per hour, 144 000 liters per day and … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna Municipal Budget 2016/2017 – Focus on Housing & Infrastructure

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The Knysna municipal budget 2016/2017 cycle was tabled this week by Executive Mayor Georlene Wolmarans as part of her final State of the Town & Budget address. During her address on Tuesday 31 May, themed “A prosperous future for Knysna,” Mayor Wolmarans touched on the highlights of the past term and shared her vision for Knysna for the years ahead: “It is my sincere hope that the next council will build on the achievements we have attained during this term in office and will strive to overcome the challenges that … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!