Providing donkeys and carts 'an insult'

BBSA

BBSA

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http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article707968.ece/Providing-donkeys-and-carts-an-insult

Giving the Delmas community donkeys and carts for carrying water is an insult, the Democratic Alliance said yesterday.

Rural people consider this an insult and an embarrassment. Who must care for the animals and maintain the carts? Is this the department's idea of job creation and development of rural areas?" DA MP James Masango said in a statement.

Masango said donkeys and carts were donated by the Mpumalanga department of public works, roads and transport on Monday for transporting water.

Department spokesman Dumisa Malamule said the department had also received the statement from the DA and would "probably respond on Friday".

"The Democratic Alliance condemns the donations of donkeys and carts for the purpose of transporting potable water.

"The department is taking people backwards in time," Masango said.

He applauded the department for giving school children and farmworkers in the area bicycles for transport but was not impressed by the gift of donkeys and carts.

"This so-called transportation system does not empower communities, but rather contributes to the stagnation of development.

"By giving donkeys and carts to the community the department is avoiding their responsibility to develop rural areas," he said.
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:wtf:
 
At least it's very "green". Who thought the ANC cared about nature so much?
 
Delmas, Gauteng, is a small town about halfway between Johannesburg and Witbank. Frank Dumat surveyed it in 1907 on the farm Witklip. Delmas was the name of Dumat's grandfather's farm in France. Delmas boasts five churches, a couple of schools, a small aerodrome and a large agricultural co-operative. Maize, wheat, potatoes, beans and dairy produce are farmed in this productive farming district. Coal and silica are mined in the area. source
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Not a little town anymore, I just had a look at Delmas on Google earth, Delmas has grown quite a few extensions lol, and feeding the donkeys shouldn't be a problem if the local agricultural community donate some feed.

Donkeys eat grass, straw, tree leaves, bark, some flowers and brambles, they'll also eat breads, some veggies and so on :)
 
BBSA said:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article707968.ece/Providing-donkeys-and-carts-an-insult

:wtf:
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Giving the Delmas community donkeys and carts for carrying water is an insult, the Democratic Alliance said yesterday.
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WTF? This bling-centered idiocy doesn’t sound like the DA. Perhaps they should all be BMW’s. It’s better than nothing. I recall when I was in CT seeing donkey pulled carts. I was quite impressed. Low tech and cart construction was fairly innovative. Usually with a car differential used as axle and wheels (I always thought that they should eliminate the differential. Adds useless weight). Slow but adequate compared to the frenetic pace of other traffic (me included).
 
Palimino said:
WTF? This bling-centered idiocy doesn’t sound like the DA. Perhaps they should all be BMW’s. It’s better than nothing. I recall when I was in CT seeing donkey pulled carts. I was quite impressed. Low tech and cart construction was fairly innovative. Usually with a car differential used as axle and wheels (I always thought that they should eliminate the differential. Adds useless weight). Slow but adequate compared to the frenetic pace of other traffic (me included).
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Do you not think these communities should be provide with running water?
 
Well... better a donkey cart than no cart at all.

Maybe the DA can carry the community's water cans around for a week or so... they'll change their minds.

On the other hand, I do hope the community will take care of the donkeys and carts...
 
BBSA said:
Do you not think these communities should be provide with running water?
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What is your point? I regarded donkeys and carts as general transportation. You would use them for transporting whatever’s necessary. Scrap, water, whatever. Of course, everyone should have running water, but if they don’t I see no reason to deny the community donkeys and carts as well because it’s ‘insulting’. This is classical nose cutting to spite faces.
 
The_Librarian said:
Well... better a donkey cart than no cart at all.

Maybe the DA can carry the community's water cans around for a week or so... they'll change their minds.

On the other hand, I do hope the community will take care of the donkeys and carts...
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Maybe the smartass that came up with this ingenious idea shoulda thought of installing a borehole for them rather. But chances are the municipality must be broke and in ruin like every other ANC run department in our country.
 
Palimino said:
What is your point? I regarded donkeys and carts as general transportation. You would use them for transporting whatever’s necessary. Scrap, water, whatever. Of course, everyone should have running water, but if they don’t I see no reason to deny the community donkeys and carts as well because it’s ‘insulting’. This is classical nose cutting to spite faces.
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I would suggest pipes and pumps to deliver water;)
 
diesel said:
Maybe the smartass that came up with this ingenious idea shoulda thought of installing a borehole for them rather. But chances are the municipality must be broke and in ruin like every other ANC run department in our country.
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Likely

BBSA said:
I would suggest pipes and pumps to deliver water;)
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Exactly. Seems like the municipality either did not or can not do this properly and so have gone the cheap route.
 
Is it just me or does anyone else see the irony in the DA and their forum fans (not to be confused with regular DA voters) in respect of the uncovered toilet saga?
 
R13... said:
Is it just me or does anyone else see the irony in the DA and their forum fans (not to be confused with regular DA voters) in respect of the uncovered toilet saga?
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How many times must we explain to you that the community agreed that they will enclose the toilets themselves?
 
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BBSA said:
I would suggest pipes and pumps to deliver water;)
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There are cost implications here. The initial capital outlay, maintenance, operation and skills. As opposed to a low-tech, general use solution which the community takes charge of. Boreholes, pipes and pumps or running water on tap would be an ideal water solution. Instead an interim solution of donkeys and carts are offered (which can be used for other things besides water). The ANC have offered a reasonable solution to a pressing need (probably by accident) and the DA are behaving like the ANC.
 
Palimino said:
There are cost implications here. The initial capital outlay, maintenance, operation and skills. As opposed to a low-tech, general use solution which the community takes charge of. Boreholes, pipes and pumps or running water on tap would be an ideal water solution. Instead an interim solution of donkeys and carts are offered (which can be used for other things besides water). The ANC have offered a reasonable solution to a pressing need (probably by accident) and the DA are behaving like the ANC.
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Ok, so then why is no mention made of the final solution? The article sounded more like the donkeys were the final solution...
 
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