Keo.co.za tour diary
18 Jun 2010
Power outages, no running water and below freezing temperatures are all part of a winter’s day in Witbank.
Thankfully Witbank isn’t hosting any World Cup fixtures or teams, because the people or municipality wouldn’t be able to use the catch phrase ‘We are ready’. Monday started off reasonably enough, apart from dodging the numerous pot-holes that scar Witbanks’ roads, but the weather was relatively warm and the Boks were in town for the first ever Test in Mpumalanga.
From that evening, power outages have been a regular feature, which makes just eating a meal an experience. The reasons for the electrical cuts have been rumoured to be a mouse that caused the sub-station to explode (as reported in the local newspaper) or that some angry individual purposefully sabotaged Eskom. Why anyone would do that with freezing temperatures is beyond me.
On Wednesday the local municipality decided the best Youth Day present for the locals would be providing no running water for the day. Hence the customary ‘whore’s bath’ (spraying deodorant instead of a shower) had to suffice, but I doubt any of the locals noticed or frankly gave a damn. The local population have welcome the Boks with open arms and have loved meeting their heroes and getting their signatures at training sessions on Monday and Tuesday. Despite the frosty conditions and the wind chill, which makes staying outside for extended periods unbearable, many of the hardened locals prefer to go out in shorts and a T-shirt.
Where to start with the Witbank nightlife. The Dros is a decent place to grab a few beers and watch the soccer, but that wasn’t an option on Thursday, as – you guessed it – the power was out. Spur was pumping, with queues outside the door and the local celebrities such as Pumas and Lions hooker Hannes Franklin in attendance. The local promo girl selling Gringo’s Tequila also made me realise life isn’t so bad in Witbank, but once that wore off after five minutes, reality struck once again.
The local casino and hotel where the Boks are staying seems to be the only other place of interest. The News Cafe is also nice and intimate as it’s dimensions rank about 5m by 6m. This also probably makes life easier for the Bok management to keep an eye on rowdy players (no names will be mentioned) as there aren’t too many places to cut loose in the town.
Witbank’s people have been hospitable and the city will only really take off when festivities for the rugby begin on Saturday. But I won’t be sad to leave, and what puts it into perspective is when you’re longing for the Slum Town of East London.
By Grant Ball, in Witbank
15 Comments
18 Jun 2010, 15:28 pm
No wonder Bobby Godsell resigned…..the system is broke and broken and emotionally bankrupt.
Of the 970 sewerage works in SA I wonder if Witbank is one of the municipalities that has one of the 36 working sewage systems. somehow I think not….so dont drink any water while you’re there, that hasnt been boiled.
So sorry they took the title of “a rsehole of the world” seriously and lived up to it.
18 Jun 2010, 15:40 pm
Sounds terrible.
What’s so difficult about filling a pot hole?
Oh wait, I know. Getting a BEE contractor to do it on budget, on time despite his previous list of construction bugger ups which prohibits him from ever operating in the industry again.
So next best option? Get a non-BEE contractor to do it, but force him to appoint a BEE sub-contractor. Which means taking twice as long to set the agreement in motion, and 50% extra cost, as he needs to pay the sub-contractor for doing squat, while still doing the actual work himself for the same budget it would have cost initially.
Meaning there aren’t enough funds left to appoint someone to fill potholes on the next street.
The joys of the new SA.
18 Jun 2010, 15:46 pm
Grant Ball
1. Stop complaining …You sound like a white dude!
Transform yourself please
2. Use the name Emalahleni instead of Witbank!
3. Whats new in RSA
18 Jun 2010, 15:47 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-2: since when have local municipalities outsourced filling of potholes, are you talking out of your bum again?
18 Jun 2010, 15:49 pm
“”The local casino and hotel where the Boks are staying seems to be the only other place of interest. The News Cafe is also nice and intimate as it’s dimensions rank about 5m by 6m. This also probably makes life easier for the Bok management to keep an eye on rowdy players (no names will be mentioned) as there aren’t too many places to cut loose in the town.”"
We know, they call him “Rowdy Januarie”.
18 Jun 2010, 15:49 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-2: Alternatively Witbank must learn to live with their potholes. This would be my recommendation. Wouldn’t be the worst of their problems anyway.
18 Jun 2010, 15:50 pm
East London is lekker my bru.
18 Jun 2010, 15:52 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-4: in durbs they have outsourced refuse collection so its not too far fetched.
dont worry man, it doesnt reflect on you, unless you want it to.
18 Jun 2010, 16:05 pm
I think its a disgrace to invite an International team to a place where these problems exist.
18 Jun 2010, 16:47 pm
@racheltjiedebeer(racheltjiedebeer)-7: Yeah tacitus lives there….
18 Jun 2010, 16:51 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-10: I didn’t say it was perfect.
18 Jun 2010, 19:54 pm
ANC are busy destroying south africa slowly but surely.
African National Corruption
18 Jun 2010, 20:09 pm
Why was the game not rather hosted in Kimberley? Bigger city that have hosted historic tests in the past. Or Olienpark in Potch – at least a university town. Witbank is just coal, steel and powerplants topped with power outages!
18 Jun 2010, 20:19 pm
Ja flip, a lot of the Bokke say the coal andshit affects the training, you can’t breathe in smog :/
19 Jun 2010, 05:02 am
“Hence the customary ‘whore’s bath’ (spraying deodorant instead of a shower) had to suffice,”
Commonly referred to as a Maori Shower…
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