Great service via new web site

ALMOST Happy Resident writes:

I have been a resident of Eagle Road in Terenure ext 3 since the area was developed 35 years ago.

There is an empty erf on Eagle Road which belongs to the municipality and zoned for a créche.

Now, 35 years later, there is no créche, only illegal dumping, uncut grass and veld fires. The electricity meter box on the sidewalk had been replaced twice in past year.

The street light on my sidewalk has been faulty for two months, which started the whole process. I went onto the Ekurhuleni web site and reported the street light and erf neglect. I also reported the park bordering Eagle, Kwartel and Oranjerivier streets.

Very nice web site, it gave me reference numbers for the complaints and promptly sent a fault report to my email.

For the grass cutting I was referred to the report section. The responsible person for Kempton Park was given as Helen Chudleigh with her office and cell numbers.

The office number rang, was picked up and the call cancelled, twice. I then called Helen on the cell number. She said she was driving and must SMS my request/complaint.

Would you believe it, the following day six grass cutting tractors cut the park and another erf. Then a team of cleaners collected all the refuse (see photograph) and further cut the grass with edge cutters where the tractor could not reach.

Helen Chudleigh, you are a star. Thank you for your prompt response and mobilising the clean up exercise. Why can’t service delivery not always be like this?

Alas, when our weekly refuse collection came they refused to pick up the erf refuse, said it was parks’ responsibility.

So, pushing my luck, I have reported the refuse removal problem again to Helen and I am hoping for the best. The street light is still not fixed but then miracles can happen again.