Service delivery collapse in Ward 94 sparks outrage from residents and businesses

Service delivery in Ward 94 has deteriorated to alarming levels, leaving residents and businesses grappling with persistent infrastructure failures, health hazards and growing frustration.

According to Ward 94 Clr Samantha Nair, the community has endured years of neglect from the City of Ekurhuleni, with critical issues like sewer overflows, potholes, streetlights and tree maintenance left unattended, with some for over three years.

One of the most pressing concerns is the recurring sewer blockages in parts of Alrode, which Nair describes as a daily health hazard.

Businesses in the area report ongoing exposure to raw sewage, putting both employees and customers at risk.

“These sewer issues are not only taking weeks to be addressed, but in many cases, teams are sent out multiple times to resolve the same problem due to poor workmanship,” said Nair.

Potholes across the ward have also gone unmaintained, with some dating back more than three years.

Streets like Eekhoring Street in Albertsdal show signs of previous repair preparation, but the work remains incomplete.

“Motorists are being forced to navigate dangerous road conditions daily,” residents report.

Streetlight maintenance is another area of growing concern. Some lights remain non-functional for extended periods, while others malfunction and remain on both day and night, wasting energy and failing to provide safety.

“There is a total breakdown in consistency and urgency,” added Nair.

Tree trimming has effectively come to a halt due to a cherry picker vehicle being in the workshop for over three years.

With no truck available to remove trimmed branches, many trees are now overgrown, damaging private property and blocking visibility.

Traffic lights, which fall under both provincial and local authorities, have also remained non-functional for over three years, creating severe traffic issues at key intersections. This has become particularly dangerous during peak hours, as motorists navigate intersections without any guidance.

Despite all these issues being logged via the city’s Integrated Management System (IMS), many have received either no response or temporary fixes that fail within days.

“We are seeing the same issues logged over and over again and nothing is being resolved in a lasting way,” said Nair.

Cleanliness in Ward 94 has reached a critical low point, with illegal dumping increasing at an alarming rate.

According to community members, some open spaces have been turned into dumping grounds, worsening the ward’s overall hygiene and aesthetics.

“Ekurhuleni has a duty to provide services to ratepayers. People are paying for services they are simply not receiving,” said the ward councillor, who is calling for urgent intervention from city leadership and relevant departments.

She also called on the mayor and municipal manager to conduct a full investigation into service delivery failures and provide a clear action plan to restore basic services in the ward.

Until then, the people of Ward 94 continue to face deteriorating infrastructure, rising health risks and growing disillusionment with their local government.