Save us from the tyranny of the idiots with aerosol paints

Out for a duck, I suppose might be the appropriate wording on a tombstone to mark the end of a rare species of duck threatened with extinction thanks to a same-sex love affair.

According to a report in the Cape Times, keepers at a West Sussex bird sanctuary had high hopes that their last Blue Duck might mate with either of their two drakes.

But alas, the drakes fell in love with each other leaving the duck, in feathery language, cuckolded. Now there are no fertilized eggs, no pending ducks and I guess not much to quack about at that particular zoo.

Here in Cape Town on the other hand I believe we have a lot about which we can preen our feathers. The best news of all being the ways in which the City of Cape Town is living up to its vision to be a 'city that works for you'.

For me, brought up to believe that cleanliness is next to Godliness, so the increased activity by city parks people in keeping the city’s public lawns mowed, gardens trim and parks relatively free of litter, is heartening as is the progress made by the Copperheads who seem to have seriously dented the destructive activities of the copper thieves.

But best of all, is the news earlier this month of the imminent clampdown on the louts who are fouling our city with their mindless marks and graffiti. I agree that hunting down and prosecuting the single cell brain-dead numbskulls responsible is small potatoes to, say, mounting campaigns against the abuse of drugs, and alcohol, violence against women crime, graft and corruption, but it’s all related.

I know the anger I feel each time I see another building defaced, another street sign obliterated, another wall smeared. When we begin not to care about the environment in which we live, then we begin not to care about nor for each. And the more rundown, the more neglected, the filthier the environment the easier it is for crime and lawlessness to thrive.

This is where I repeat the legend of New York. There they prosecuted even the most petty criminal, resulting, in the end, in a massive reduction of all crime. New Yorkers gained a new sense of pride in their city, the impact of which is still there today. Ask me, I know, I’ve been there. So all strength I say to the graffiti squad as they go about cleaning up the city and the suburbs and freeing us from the tyranny of idiots with aerosols.

On a happier note, I managed to duck out of work early this week to hike with a group of friendly people, along the pipe track up (and up and up and up) Woody Ravine, (the pain, the pain, the pain) across the Back Table and down Disa Gorge to the Hoerikwaggo Trail’s Orange Kloof tented camp, where after a cold swim and a hot shower followed by a braai and some fine wine, we spent the night, on clean sheets, on soft beds, under the stars. Now there’s a lot to quack about.