During the past few days, Lesedi Local Municipality held an IDP roadshow to the various wards in Lesedi district.
They wanted to engage with the community on their plans and budget for the new year.
On May 17, the meeting was held in the City Hall for Wards 8, 9 and 10. There were about 150 community members that attended the meeting.
Lesedi Local Municipality Executive Mayor Mluleki Nkosi opened the proceedings.
The main talking point in the meeting is that LLM is working at a loss every month and is struggling to operate as a municipality.
To compound matters is that there are huge infrastructure problems coupled with water, electricity and sewerage leaks everywhere.
Pheelo Mollo (Local Economic Development and Planning) started by laying out LLM’s vision.
“By 2030, LLM will be a smart, innovative, efficient people-centred and performance-driven municipality, providing a safe and healthy living environment and high-quality municipal service to the community,” said Mollo.
Mollo said LLM’s motto is Investment Paradise.
Acting CFO of Finance Gugu Mncube provided a breakdown of the budget.
In the meeting, various points were made about basic service delivery.
Mollo said that LLM is planning to install solar panels at all their libraries in Lesedi.
Other points were:
• Replacing asbestos pipes in Lesedi
• Working on illegal occupation and stamping out land-grabbing
• Installing a grandstand pavilion roof in Ratanda, Ext 23
• Developing a mega Agricultural park
• High-speed connectivity optic fibre
• Sanities township development near Bergsig
• New books for the library
• Upgrading the Impumelelo substation
• Electricity supply to Obed Nkosi and Kwazenzele
• Installation of high electrical masts
• Water and sanitation infrastructure in Kaydale
Ongoing projects that include service delivery are street lights, potholes, stormwater drainage, grass-cutting and trees in parks.
After the presentation, an opportunity was given to the community to ask questions.
Various questions were raised on the budget as well as service delivery concerns.
DA councillors Sieg Paul and Gerry Holtzhauzen got their chance to speak. While Holtzhauzen was busy with his list of questions to the mayor, he was shut down and told to sit.
This prompted Paul and Holtzhauzen to leave the meeting immediately.
A question on the motto of Lesedi was also raised as to what they are going to do to make Heidelberg an investment paradise with all the problems and financial difficulties that is part of the municipality.
The questions raised on the budget were all relevant to the meeting and when the mayor was put on the spot with direct questions, they too were shut down.
