Wards are a mess – councillors
Prior to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Mayors Summit held earlier this year, Clr Da Rocha said the executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), Clr Parks Tau, pulled resources from several wards.
The lack of service delivery and feedback on problems raised with council departments is resulting in councillors bearing the brunt of residents’ fury.
This was stated by local councillors Clrs Alison van der Molen and Carlos Da Rocha. The councillors said their wards, 118 and 66, “are a mess” and despite residents and councillors raising concerns with several departments, nothing is happening.
Prior to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Mayors Summit held earlier this year, Clr Da Rocha said the executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), Clr Parks Tau, pulled resources from several wards. “These resources and manpower were moved to the inner city. As a result, wards such as mine suffered tremendously due to the lack of service delivery. The grass is not cut, streets are lined with illegal dumping and manhole covers are missing. Residents are complaining and I do not blame them. I have highlighted both their concerns and mine to officials and instead of action, nothing is being done,” he said.
Clr Van der Molen said the only departments that responded to the concerns she raised were Joburg Water, City Parks and City Power. “The roads are a mess. There are potholes all over. I have asked for assistance to control the parking problems in Derrick Avenue in Cyrildene and nothing has happened. Service delivery is non-existent. While I appreciate residents raising their concerns with me, there are limitations to what I as a councillor can do. Council is failing its residents. However, I will continue to raise my concerns with officials,” she said.
Clr Da Rocha said that a few months ago improvements of an acceptable standard and service delivery were evident.
“Now however, all I can say is that my ward is falling apart. The summit has come and gone. It was embarrassing to see people walking through long grass and filthy areas to get to a venue to register to vote recently. Why is the city setting our wards back? Residents are turning against us. Is the city doing this intentionally because they know elections are around the corner? Is this an election tool? It seems that all Democratic Alliance wards are not getting proper service delivery,” he said.
The EXPRESS forwarded several enquiries to City of Johannesburg officials. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
