Malvern Care Team notes highs and lows
Malvern Care Team to host JMPD Chief and Safety MMC in community dialogue.
Residents’ lobby group Malvern Care Team (MCT) has been active in trying to get a number of issues affecting the community resolved.
The group said they have had various successes and failures while attempting to do this but will not be deterred.
Its spokesperson Mike Spadino noted that the group has been involved in objecting to all new applications or renewals of liquor licences for taverns or shebeens, bottle stores and restaurants, on behalf of residents.
In addition Spadino said MCT’s executive committee conducted walkabouts in Wards 65 and 118 to compile a list of service delivery issues.
He said those sent to MCT by the community are also logged with the various departments within the City of Joburg.
“We will continue fighting these battles.We will also be working with other organisations in getting the Liquor Board to enforce its mandate as set out in the Liquor Act. An interesting observation since we began objecting to these applications is that no new ones have been made.
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“For April 2019 MCT has logged over 120 issues, the majority of which are with Joburg Road Agency, City Power and Joburg Water,” said Spadino.
He commended the removal of a skip placed by Interwaste near the Tooronga Railway Station as noteworthy, following a report in the EXPRESS on March 26.
He, however, said dumping remains a major issue in the area.
“Sadly the issue of illegal dumping by residents is a major concern of us. Dumping spots are cleaned up by Pikitup but just as soon people dump at same spot. JMPD fined a resident from King Street after he was found dumping, yet the resident continues with his illegal dump activities.”
In a short comment when asked about illegal dumping, JMPD spokesperson Chief Supt Wayne Minnaar said, “The cost to the city is huge as a result of illegal dumping.”
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Spadino said he hopes this and a wide range of other issues, including the proliferation of illegal hawkers as a result of a lack of by-law enforcement, will be addressed in a meeting with MMC for Community Safety Clr Michael Sun and JMPD Chief David Tembe during a community dialogue.
The group hopes for the attendance of the executive mayor of Joburg councillor Herman Mashaba as well, whose office they have sent an invitation to and are awaiting a reply from. The meeting will be held at the Bethel Lighthouse at the corner of Mars and St Fresquin streets in Malvern on May 25.
