EDITOR – As residents and citizens of Ward 25, we are paying taxes, but we are not seeing how that money is being used.
Each year, national and municipal budgets are allocated for specific purposes, and while there may not be a per-ward allocation, the City of Ekurhuleni has its own budget and should know how it is meant to be distributed.
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Infrastructure in our area is declining rapidly.
There are homes that are falling apart, walls collapsing, and projects that are started but then left to deteriorate.
The bridge in Outeniqua is also in a critical state and is a serious safety concern. It is going to cause an accident and potentially cost lives.
It is unbearable to watch everything around us deteriorate. We are also experiencing ongoing water and sanitation problems, including frequent water cuts.
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When there are no water outages, sewage systems are still not being addressed or repaired.
After heavy rains, stormwater is not properly drained, resulting in water pooling along roads. This causes damage to the roads and contributes to cracks and potholes forming.
Electricity outages occur almost weekly. When residents contact the City of Ekurhuleni, there is often no clear information, only repeated responses that technicians have been dispatched or that updates are pending.
We recently experienced a serious incident where an illegal truck drove on a residential road and pulled down two poles and a cable, leaving live wires exposed.
It was a dangerous situation, especially in wet conditions.
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The matter was only addressed the following day after further follow-up.
Some areas have been without power for up to five days during outages.
This results in financial loss, including food spoilage, increased fuel costs for generators, and damage to appliances.
Not everyone can afford insurance or replacement costs. There are also vulnerable residents, including people on oxygen, sleep apnea machines and life-saving medication such as insulin.
Street lighting in areas such as Bredell and Pomona is also a concern, with very few working lights. This is a safety risk.
Municipally owned open fields are not being maintained.
Grass grows waist-high, and these areas have become unsafe.
Residents have raised concerns about criminal activity in these spaces, including drug-related offences.
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There is also a lack of clarity about whether residents are allowed to maintain these areas themselves, as permits are required for any work on municipal land.
We are living in constant fear.
We worry about safety when leaving our homes, walking outside at night, or even moving around our neighbourhoods due to potholes, faulty traffic lights and a lack of lighting.
We also have serious concerns about emergency response services.
Ambulance response times are often very slow, and there are instances where it takes hours to respond to emergencies. This places residents at serious risk.
We are asking for accountability and urgent intervention. We cannot continue living under these conditions.
Amelia Catto
EDITOR’S COMMENT: The City of Ekurhuleni was given an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised by the resident, but no feedback was received by the time of going to print.
