Mayor Mzwandile Masina has seven days to respond to demands

The community of Kathorus has given the executive mayor of the City of Ekurhulen (CoE) until May 27 to respond to its demands at the Katlehong Customer Care Centre (CCC).

This follows leaders mobilising various associations and communities around Kathorus to express their concerns by marching to deliver a memorandum of demands to MMC for environment and waste management Khosi

Mabaso, who is expected to deliver it to the mayor’s office.

The peaceful march, which took place on May 20, commenced at Somhlolo Grounds in Ramokonopi then proceeded to Sontonga Road and ended at the CCC. Frustrated people from the Ekurhuleni Service Delivery Forum (ESDF), Mzanzi Business Association (MBA), Voice of the Voiceless (VV), informal settlements and hostel dwellers took part in the march.

The different stakeholders called for the city to address the continued poor service delivery in Kathorus. Sipho Zwane of ESDF said they marched to the CCC to hand over the memorandum to the mayor and gave him seven days to respond to their grievances.

“We are handing over this memorandum because we want you to listen to the grievances of the community,” said Zwane. He said people knew that they were living amid a pandemic, but they were risking their lives to march to deliver the memorandum.

“We actually wanted the mayor to come here but he sent Mabaso instead. When you are a leader and people request to engage with you, you have to avail yourself.

“The elections are around the corner and are we expected to put him back in the office while he does not engage with us. He was not appointed by animals, he was appointed by people,” Zwane added.

Zwane handed over the memorandum to Mabaso who received and signed it on behalf of the CoE and the mayor. She explained that she was sent to receive the memorandum because the mayor was attending a programme of economic development event in Germiston and was unable to attend.

“We heard your concerns. As the CoE, we will take the memorandum and start preparing to meet and engage with you within seven days. I will deliver the message as I have received it,” said Mabaso.
Zwane said should the mayor not respond within seven days, there would be a big shutdown in Kathorus and surrounding areas.

Some of the grievances in the memorandum for poor service delivery include:
• Verification of RDP houses in Palm Ridge Extension 10 and 12, Tsakani Extension 22, Thembisa Clayville, Daveyton Chief Albert Luthuli and Extension 14.
• Some Alberton human settlement officials, based at Katlehong CCC, to be investigated and removed for allegedly selling RDP houses.
• Fixing the sewer system, which is a mess because of incompetent tenders.
• Fixing electricity problems, which are affecting the community, especially during winter.
• Littering.
• Potholes that are not fixed.
• Drainage blockages, which are a health hazard.
• Poor services in clinics.
• Poor services in Sassa offices.
• Poor service delivery in human settlement.