On July 4 residents of Quellerie Park invited the News for a tour of their suburb to highlight problem areas.
For a variety of reasons the group chose to remain anonymous but appointed young firecracker and chartered accountant student Zurica Botes as their representative. The News did check with the group of residents if Botes was indeed mandated to speak on their behalf, which they confirmed.
Botes said they realised their problems were not unique but expected more from the councillors of the wards in which their suburb falls – DA councillors Trudie Naude (Ward 38) and Mark Trump (Ward 20).
All we ever get is the ‘we inherited a bad municipality’ excuse or we are told ‘the problem has been reported’, but there seems to be no follow-up or implementing of solutions,” said Botes.
The most pressing issues according to the Botes ‘faction’ are:
• Grass and trees in the large veld separating Quellerie Park from Burgershoop are not being cut and trimmed, which leaves it unsightly and creates a security risk
• Potholes, especially two very large ones in Batavia Street
• Missing manhole covers
• Streetlights not functioning
• Missing gate at the substation
Botes said the councillors expect residents to do everything themselves which leaves them wondering why they pay rates and taxes.
Trump responded also on Naude’s behalf. (Read the full response in the print edition of the News.)
He said in a written reply, “The new budget year is effective 1 July, and the Department of Integrated Environmental Management has already commenced fixing machines so that the municipality has the necessary equipment to do grass-cutting and tree-trimming”.
Regarding the potholes he indicated resurfacing would be done during the winter months. Commenting on the missing manhole covers Trump said it was being investigated and that alternatives such as plastic and concrete covers are being considered.
On the matter of faulty streetlights Trump commented, “The enormous challenge that we are currently facing in the CBD area and surrounds is that of cable theft by street dwellers. Shortly after streetlights are repaired cable is snipped in small amounts and sold to scrap metal dealers.
Mogale City is currently looking at ways to ensure the protection of the infrastructure such as solar conversions, and to clamp down on illegal scrapyards.”
Trump asked residents to report the missing substation gate to the available structures.
