GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - In the nine months since his election as ward 2 representative, Councillor Ricardo Smith has proved to be compassionate and hard-working, helping out over and above all expectations.
This according to residents of his ward in both Graaff-Reinet Horseshoe and Nieu-Bethesda, who brought Smith's dedication to the Advertiser's attention.
"This guy is like Superman, wherever and whenever there is a complaint, he helps personally if he can by sorting it out," said Erma Voigt. "I have never seen anyone serve the community the way he does."
Smith has been involved in helping those affected by the water crisis in Graaff-Reinet, delivering water himself to households in need. Graaff-Reinet Hardware donated a 5 500 litre tank for use as a water point for the community, which was installed at Smith's house.
This is filled regularly by Gift of the Givers. He has also been helped in this work by local businessman Sakkie van Zyl, who has made his bakkie available, and the Dutch Reformed Church, who lent a water tank to go on the bakkie to make a mobile water station.
"Ricardo does not discriminate when anyone calls for help, and responds quickly to requests and complaints," said van Zyl. "He is a real good Samaritan, and a great example of dedication."
Water is distributed from the tank in Ricardo Smith's yard.
Marlene Marran, a pensioner living on Monument Road, has had no functional running water in her taps since 8 August 2019. "Ricardo has been a lifeline for me," she said. "I can send him a message at any time, and he will bring me water."
He delivers drinking water from his own municipal supply, at his expense, as well as water for toilets and cleaning from the supply at Maggie's Pit.
Another area where Smith has been actively helping his community is with the removal of rubbish, either from illegal dumping, or when the municipality has failed to collect the garbage. Again, van Zyl made his bakkie available, and Smith himself could be seen around town, personally hefting bags of litter onto the vehicle.
In Nieu-Bethesda, he has actively been campaigning for an ambulance for the village, as well as a high school.
"There is also a desperate need for housing in Nieu-Bethesda, as the last RDP houses were built in 1993," he said. He has escalated thee causes to parliament on the residents' behalf, through MP Samantha Graham-Maré.
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