Letter: Kempton Park service delivery in decline

EDITOR – Service delivery in Kempton Park Ext 2 to Ext 4, Allen Grove, Aston Manor, Nimrod Park and Glen Marais has collapsed. This is not an isolated failure; it is sustained neglect. Our roads are in crisis.

Since November 2024, potholes have multiplied and deepened, causing residents to incur damage to their vehicles and unnecessary expenses, while the municipality fails to act.

Our streets are also in darkness.

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Streetlights across large parts of our communities have been non-operational for more than five years.

This situation is compounded by unchecked vandalism and cable theft, which plunge neighbourhoods into darkness and create an environment where criminals can operate more easily.

Our parks have also been abandoned.

Public spaces meant for families are overgrown and neglected. Residents’ associations have stepped in to maintain them, but this should not be their responsibility. Maintaining these spaces is a municipal function.

Bylaws are not being enforced. Illegal developments have become increasingly common, while open spaces and parks are being illegally occupied.

There appears to be little appetite from the current coalition government to address these issues. When bylaws are ignored, chaos follows.

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Restoring our communities will require both accountability and unity. Simple actions, such as each resident maintaining the area outside their home, can make a visible difference.

Street by street and block by block, we can begin restoring pride in our neighbourhoods.

Residents must also hold this failing coalition accountable.

Service delivery failures can be reported through the City of Ekurhuleni App, the call centre, or IMS.

When complaints exceed approved timeframes, residents can escalate them to me via SMS or WhatsApp. Residents also have the right to submit petitions.

Petitions submitted to the Public Participation Committee require departments to account publicly and commit to action. I will assist residents in submitting these petitions.

I will not accept decline as normal. I will not accept excuses in place of action.

As your ward councillor, I will continue fighting for safe roads, working streetlights, clean parks, bylaw enforcement and dignified living conditions.

Yes, we can fix this. Yes, we can restore pride. Yes, we can change the fortunes of this municipality.

Clr Jaco Terblanche

DA City of Ekurhuleni Ward 16 councillor