Matatiele’s Missed Opportunity: A Call for Visionary Leadership
Recently, I had the chance to revisit Flagstaff, a small town in the coastal Pondoland region of the Eastern Cape, after a long absence. Upon entering from the Kokstad side, I was struck by the inviting sight of Flagstaff Square, a shopping mall that opened in 2022. With 43 shops, including restaurants and clothing retailers, it stands as a testament to progress in the area. The mall is not only immaculate but also offers residents convenient access to services, eliminating the need for long drives to find basic amenities.
Reflecting on my roots in Matatiele, I couldn’t help but compare. Despite being better designed than Flagstaff, Matatiele lacks a shopping complex, leaving residents to travel to Kokstad or even Durban for a simple meal at Nandos or to access other essential services. This stark reality raises pressing questions about the leadership in Matatiele over the past three decades of democracy. Why have our leaders failed to bring a shopping mall to a town with ample land for development?
The contrast is striking when considering places like KwaBaca (Mount Frere), which recently opened a shopping complex with escalators—its fourth or fifth in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality. Social media buzzed with excitement during its opening, even as people struggled to navigate the escalators. If a smaller town can achieve such progress, what’s holding Matatiele back?
The answer seems to lie in a lack of vision among our leaders, whose tenure has been marred by factional infighting and allegations of corruption. While the Mayor of Ntabankulu recently announced plans for a new shopping complex in a poverty-stricken town, one has to ask: What about Matatiele? We deserve better than to be left in the shadows while other towns thrive.
It’s time for a renewed commitment to visionary leadership in Matatiele. Our town has the potential to flourish, but it requires leaders who prioritize progress and community needs over personal agendas. The question remains: “Kukhale nyonini eMatatiele? Hini idolophu entle kangaka.”
No tags for this post.
