Residents address unsafe open veld and potholes

Kwatsaduza – As residents await this year’s elections, the African Reporter headed to Tsakani and Kwa-Thema to hear the issues residents want to address before they make their mark on this year’s ballot.

One community member shared the story of an elderly woman robbed in an open veld. He claimed thieves target the elderly and rob them of their grant money.

The residents informed us that a local business owner owns the land overgrown by grass.

The community would like the grass cut and the CPF to assist them by inspecting the area on grant days to ensure residents are safe.

The residents said Tsakani’s service delivery is not up to standard. They believe the municipality is cleaning some areas because of the upcoming elections.

“We see the grass being mowed in some areas. Usually, the community would burn the overgrown grass themselves. So, they only want to start working because we are nearing elections,” said community member Anele Mahlangu.

She continued to say the residents aren’t sure that the current service delivery is not part of some tactic to get votes or if the government will be consistent even after the elections.

According to Mahlangu, the residents living on Sotho and Hlubi streets once gathered and collected refuse bags from other community members to clean the open veld. They asked a fellow resident to use his truck.

“We spent almost five hours cleaning the open veld because the grass was too long, and the area was dirty. The municipal workers came with their trucks after we had done most of the work.

“The sad part is that when the thieves see you holding a shopping bag, they will chase and rob you. They want to steal the possessions in that plastic bag. Whether you have money or not, they steal whatever you have,” Mahlangu said.

The irony is that the residents must walk through the same open veld where the criminal act happened to get to the police station.

Residents in Kwa-Thema raised the issue of potholes. Mxolisi Kali said one particular pothole has worsened over the past months.

“The pothole was much smaller in the beginning. Then there was a water leak under it. Hundreds of litres of clean water went to waste in that time.

“Eventually, the metro attended to it. But its workers left an even larger hole when they dug to fix the leak. They just left it open, and it has been months.

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“People started using soil to fill it up to make it more usable for motorists. But why wouldn’t the municipal workers not close it up?” he said.

Residents are encouraged to participate in the African Reporter’s The Choice is Yours series.

To contribute, send your leads for this editorial series to xoliswak@caxton.co.za and buhle@caxton.co.za, marking the subject line: The Choice is Yours.

Attach a photo illustrating the area of concern, its location and a brief description.