THE efficient delivery of essential services to citizens remains the fundamental driving force for government.
To this end, Gauteng premier David Makhura has initiated the Ntirhisano Roadshow, a programme which aims to unlock service delivery challenges such as issues of human settlements, water and sanitation and the supply of electricity in Gauteng.
The Ekurhuleni leg of the roadshow kicked-off at the beginning of August, where the premier, executive mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele, and their teams visited Wattville and Etwatwa to identity areas that need urgent provincial government intervention.
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The second instalment, which took place last week, included the official renaming of the former Natalspruit Hospital in Vosloorus to Thelle Mogoerane Hospital. The late Mogoerane was a resident of Vosloorus who sacrificed his life and died for the liberation of the country.
“A country that does not respect its past does not have a future. The naming of Thelle Mogoerane Hospital is an indication that we are a government that acknowledges the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” said Makhura at the renaming ceremony.
Mogoerane’s elderly mother Christine expressed her joy after all the years of feeling grief and unhappiness, thinking that her son had lost his life in vain. Thelle died at the tender age of 24.
The delegation visited Kwesine Hostel and Palm Ridge Ext 9 and held a community and stakeholder engagement meeting at Thokoza Indoor Sports Hall.
Member of the mayoral committee for human settlements, Clr Aubrey Nxumalo, noted issues raised by hostel residents such as depleted building infrastructure, as well as stormwater and drainage systems problems.
“We know that the living conditions in the hostel are not desirable and measures are underway to correct this. The municipality has planned a budget for demolition and building of a new the hostel that will be done in phases from the 2016/2017 financial year. Residents will be notified timeously and provision for temporary accommodation will be made available,” said Nxumalo.
While the planning phases of the construction of the new hostel are underway, Ekurhuleni’s water and sanitation officials will revisit the hostel to fix the identified leaking water pipes and taps.
In closing the meeting in Thokoza, Makhura highlighted that South Africa was a government by the people and for the people, therefore residents should speak out and inform the municipality of issues that needed to be corrected to help move the country and its people forward.
Those who did not get the opportunity to attend any of the public meetings can still bring their concerns to the attention of the Ntirhisano panel by texting the word “IMBIZO” to 37190. Their matters will be logged in the Ekurhuleni EMIS system (service delivery monitoring system) for further intervention.
