Councillor bemoans lack of service delivery in the CBD
It's been eight months since the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality vowed to take action against urban decay in the Brakpan CBD.
Despite assurances that regular clean-ups would take place and that service delivery challenges would be dealt with, not much has been done to address the appalling conditions in the Brakpan Mall and surrounding area.
The issue was highlighted by the Herald in June last year and is of great concern to DA councillor for the area, Brandon Pretorius.
“It has become very obvious to me that our local departments are constantly dragging their feet where issues of service delivery are concerned,” he said.
“They would rather try pass the buck than deal with pertinent service delivery issues; services that residents are paying for.
“The lack of responsibility and accountability by our local departments is incredibly alarming.
“Our CBD is deteriorating each day and the metro is responsible for this deterioration.”
Pretorius pointed out that the deterioration appears to be a trend throughout Ekurhuleni.
“The City’s management does not seem to be bothered, as no one is held accountable,” he said.
“I am incredibly concerned that the metro does not see the value of maintaining good relationships with the local business fraternity to ensure a conducive economic environment.
“In my view, this would be the best way to try and address poverty within Brakpan.
“Unfortunately it does not seem as if the metro shares my sentiments and this is a shame in itself.
“What is actually being done by the Economic Development Department in Brakpan?
“They should really support our local businesses more to ensure long term investment within our town.”
The EMPD regularly conducts by-law enforcement operations in these areas, but seems to be fighting a losing battle.
Traffic wardens from the Brakpan precinct held a clean-up operation in the mall on Wednesday, last week, where vagrants were removed and a large quantity of goods and material was confiscated.
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It was necessary for the wardens to return a few days later, on Saturday, to conduct a follow-up operation where more items were seized and vagrants were once again removed.
The operation also saw them visiting a parking lot along Queen Avenue (behind Jet) where goods were confiscated and illegal structures were demolished.
In the meantime, Pretorius has made it his ‘personal mission’ for the month of February to address basic issues and get them resolved.
These will include simple service delivery issues and focusing on the CBD’s two main roads.
“Voortrekker Road and Prince George Avenue need major attention,” said Pretorius.
“The fixing of all the street lights, which have been out of order for the past two years, proper grass-cutting and tree-trimming on the island along Prince George Avenue, the clearing of weeds in the trenches and side-walks, and overall cleaning and maintenance.”
Pretorius believes that while it is not the responsibility of a municipality to create jobs, it is still their responsibility to create an attractive environment to lure investment opportunities.
Pretorius can be contacted on 083 308 7821.
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