Residents of Fourways are demanding answers from the municipality because they are not getting any relief from reporting issues to various entities.
Peter Hemer and Lovemore Robson have been lodging complaints about poor service delivery to the city and getting no response.
They are so fed up and disillusioned, that they are taking it upon themselves now to do some of the work they pay the municipality to do.
Lovemore Robson lives in Lonehill and started an organisation, the Lovemore Foundation, that focuses on cleaning up litter, illegally dumped rubbish and other pollution in the Fourways area. “The municipality is not doing its job or helping us. We cannot just fold our arms and do nothing about it. I can’t live in dirty surroundings, and I won’t let other people live in such situations either.”
The city increased tariffs on July 1, a move that continues to anger resident Peter Hemer.
“How can the municipality increase rates instead of creating employment so that more people can pay their rates and taxes? We are still struggling with potholes, social issues and other ills, yet, we have to pay more while living in this ridiculous situation.
“Property rates are a simple tax. I just object to my taxes not being used for maintaining or repairing. An example would be the bridge on Main Road in Jukskei Park that was first damaged by floods about five years ago and even more damaged last year and we still have no repairs.
“Water usage is calculated via the meter and to some extent, I can control my usage but why do we continue to see so many leaking meters that are located on verges?”
City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said, “We agree that there is a need to accelerate service delivery in areas where there is a backlog. Residents and businesses must come to the party and pay for services they consume in full and on time. Monies collected through rates and taxes go towards a variety of services like healthcare, roads, water, electricity, waste collection and others.
“Some of the tariff increases are determined by external agencies like Rand Water, Eskom and Nersa over which we have no control.”
At the time of going to print councillors had not yet responded for comment.
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