Germiston residents raise issues of service delivery in community meeting

Residents of Ward 35 voiced their concerns regarding service delivery issues during a community meeting with their ward councillor and the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) executive mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza on October 15.

The meeting, called by Ward 35 Clr Ntuthuzelo Mpambani, served as a platform for residents to address challenges affecting their neighbourhoods.

Attendees outlined a range of grievances, including bin theft, potholes, power outages, waste management issues, inadequate sewerage infrastructure, and sewage leaks.

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Other concerns included the presence of metal scrapyards and allegations of corruption among officials, as well as reports of shops selling expired food and a lack of street lighting.

Xhakaza addressed the crowd, explaining the structure of the city government and its service delivery model.

He encouraged councillors to hold regular public meetings to report to the community and acknowledge residents’ complaints.

“It is nearly impossible for me to attend every meeting when there are problems. I have been in office for six months, with the first three primarily focusing on getting the city functional,” Xhakaza explained.

“We will continue to prioritise service delivery to ensure sustainable services for our residents.”

Resident Pierre Swanepoel emphasised the urgent need to address illegally occupied buildings in the area.

“We need a secure electrical infrastructure. Those who steal power cables and vandalise substations must be brought to justice,” he said.

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He also called for improved communication and efficiency from the energy department, noting residents cannot afford to be a week without power.

Another resident from Galway Street highlighted ongoing issues with low water pressure, expressing frustration over the lack of solutions.

Mpambani acknowledged the difficulties faced by the ward are not new to his office.

He noted Dukathole informal settlement has a well-documented history of sewerage issues because of overcrowding in the area.

“The sewer and electricity problems require re-blocking, but we are addressing a land issue,” he stated.

He also mentioned the business district has experienced power outages for nearly three weeks, affirming the problem is being addressed.

Mpambani encouraged residents to report issues to facilitate prompt action.

Bridget Thusi, the MMC of Community Services and head of the Germiston Customer Care Centre (CCC),

responded to residents’ complaints and provided contact information for public communication.

Residents can reach Thusi at 072 026 0021, the acting chief of police (EMPD) Mkwanazi at 073 239 0062, or the Crime Hotline at 084 435 9421.

The bylaw enforcement number is 068 054 5976.