Dear President Ramaphosa,
I write to you as a proud South African, a community leader, and a concerned citizen of Hopefield, a small town on the Cape West Coast. Our community is in crisis, and we urgently need your attention and leadership.
Our Children Swim in Danger
Hopefield’s children have no safe place to swim. Instead, they are forced to swim in a polluted salt river running through the industrial area of our town. This river is not just dirty—it is dangerous.
Recently, three venomous cobras were caught near the river, one in the reeds where children often play. This is a tragedy waiting to happen, and our pleas for a safe, clean swimming pool have gone unheard for years.
During the COVID pandemic, ETV aired a story highlighting our need, but nothing materialized. The children of Hopefield continue to be forgotten.
Our Heritage is Being Destroyed
In the yard of our local library stands a historic house—a symbol of our community’s rich heritage and culture. I was born in a similar house 68 years ago in Oudekraalfontein, where the Aboriginal people of Hopefield lived.
Despite its historical significance, this house is crumbling, and the Saldanha Bay Municipality has dismissed it, saying it has “no historical value.” Mr. President, how can the heritage of our Aboriginal people—an integral part of South Africa’s story—be so easily discarded?
Our Youth Are Left Behind
Youth sports are nearly non-existent in Hopefield. Despite repeated requests to the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, as well as local offices, our calls for support go unanswered.
Sports are not just games—they are a path to discipline, leadership, and opportunity. By denying our youth these chances, we are denying them a future.
A Call for Action – Not Promises
Mr. President, you have often spoken of your commitment to building a better South Africa, where no one is left behind. Yet here in Hopefield, we feel forgotten.
We need:
A safe community swimming pool to protect our children and promote water safety.
Preservation of our heritage, including the restoration of the historic house in our library yard.
Investment in youth sports to give our young people the opportunities they deserve.
Your leadership can make this happen. You have the power to ensure that the promises of our democracy reach even the smallest and most forgotten communities.
A Visit to Hopefield
We invite you, Mr. President, to visit Hopefield. Walk through our streets, see the river where our children swim, and witness the house that represents our heritage. Meet the people who continue to hope, despite years of being overlooked.
Hopefield is not just a small town—it is a microcosm of the challenges faced by many South Africans. With your support, we can turn our challenges into triumphs and create a future our children can be proud of.
Sincerely,
George C April
Founder and Chairperson, West Coast Sports Solutions
📧 admin@wcsportssolutions.co.za
📞 067 074 5040
🌐 https://www.wcsportssolutions.co.za/
#HopefieldNeedsHelp #SafeSwimming #YouthSports #CulturalPreservation
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