CYRIL FARR from Bonaero Park writes:
During the months leading up to the 2014 election the DA regularly sent campaign SMSs to the millions of South Africans on the voters roll.
Although I was irritated at receiving the flood of unsolicited text messages it made me wonder, if a little political party could show such enterprise and drive to reach its target audience, why can’t all the major metro councils do likewise in pursuit of effecting the much promised improved service delivery to ratepayers?
During the regular power failures it is virtually impossible to reach our municipal offices telephonically. All one gets on the Ekurhuleni call centre telephone line is a pre-recorded message which states that council is aware of outages in specified suburbs and technicians are attending to the repair. The message frustratingly gives absolutely no indication of the severity of the problem and what the anticipated period of disruption will be.
It could be for only a few hours or as so often happens these days, a lengthy three or four-day crisis.
The pre-recorded message is never updated to advise on repair progress. This lack of communication skills by the council causes huge inconvenience, especially to home owners who need electricity supply for medical emergencies such as oxygen intake.
If residents were advised of a lengthy power disruption they could make alternative plans to obtain relief.
Surely Ekurhuleni Metro could show a degree of initiative like the DA election campaign managers did and send an SMS to residents in the affected areas explaining the cause of the power disruption and the anticipated period of the outage. Then send out hourly progress updates.
It’s not rocket science but what residents should routinely expect in return for the astronomical rates and taxes they pay, and the handsome salaries the fat cat council bureaucrats receive.
My sister, residing in Adelaide, Australia told me their council even SMS them concerning minor matters, such as when their garbage collection will be delayed and when it will resume.
It’s a best practice communication culture which should apply to all government departments.
Failure to achieve such a simple procedure makes me wonder if the metro has an adequate urban disaster plan document, with details enabling emergency services to reach all the elderly and infirm residents in times of major crises.
World class metro councils should ideally reach out to all such vulnerable citizens living in their jurisdiction and compile a data base for use in times of urban disasters.
