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Cape Town - A Fin24 user laments the state of his hometown ofVereeniging that, with three rivers running through it, could have easily be a major tourist attraction.

Vereeniging is part of Gautengs Emfuleni Local Municipality in the Vaal Triangle. It was in the news recently, after it was reported that the municipal manager earns R200000 a year more than President Jacob Zuma, according to City Press.

Sam Shabalala (52) pockets R2.8m each year, making him South Africas most well-paid municipal manager. The municipality, which includes Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark, services 722000 residents and has a budget of R3.9bn.

Fin24 user Greer da Cruz writes:

It really pains me to write this letter, because believe it or not, I actually love my town, Vereeniging in the Vaal area. I was born and bred here. But today I look around and think 'hellhole' because there is no other word to describe it.

SEE GALLERY: Vereeniging, a place of dirt and litter

We, in the Vaal area are fortunate to have not one, but three rivers running through our town and suburbs. Anywhere else in the world that would be a major tourist attraction - but in Vereeniging it is a filthy, dirty area of ill repute.

It's true, some people try to enjoy Vosloo Park in the summer months, especially the fisherman. They sit amongst the litter and broken bottles trying to enjoy some of the peace and tranquility it is supposed to convey. Cars roam all over what's left of the grass and the children have to play in the dirt. This used to be a park. A park where people could braai. You could not drive all over the place, you had to park and walk. Children could play on the swings and slides and one could walk dogs. How have we allowed our standards to drop so low that this shoddy excuse for a lifestyle has become acceptable?

Three Rivers in Vereeniging shown below:

In Vanderbijlpark, there are public parks, in Meyerton there are public parks, and in Johannnesburg you have Zoo Lake, the Botanical Gardens and the Zoo, to name a few places where one can sit and enjoy a picnic on the weekend.

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Fin24.com | From zero maintenance to total destruction