HOEDSPRUIT: Chamber compiles community action plan

Emotions ran high at times during a Hoedspruit Chamber of Commerce meeting to compile a community action plan for the town on Wednesday night.

The meeting, chaired by the Chamber’s treasurer, Ian Smith, and community and membership exco member Maxine Smith, invited all interested parties to attend the meeting to discuss numerous pressing issues in the town and surrounding areas.

The informal settlement, garbage removal, business zoning, traffic congestion, tourism, taxi rank and public transport were some of the matters that caused a storm on social media recently and were on the agenda for discussion during the well attended meeting in the Rhino Convention Centre.

The meeting, which was primarily called to discuss an action plan and to list existing positives happening in and around Hoedspruit, was also attended by Maruleng Acting Municipal manager, MC Machubene, and other officials.

Machubene told the meeting that the municipality’s doors were open for discussion with the Chamber and other role players and the issues raised by the meeting, particularly garbage removal, the squatter camp, etc, were also the concerns of Maruleng and that these issues should be addressed in a constructive manner with all parties working together to solve them.

On the positive side the recently introduced garbage removal project by community members themselves was discussed and supported.

Ron and Cindy Hopkins and Cindy Koen and their team were applauded for the initiative and an appeal to support it was issued.

Maxine Smith pointed out that the concerns will only be addressed successfully if it is driven by the community and not by officials, unfortunately several similar meetings in the past were held with very little consequence.”

The Chamber’s role is to facilitate and co-ordinate these initiatives, not execute them,” Smith said.

For that the participation and support of the whole community, and in particular Maruleng, is required.

Former Chamber President, Sarah Bergs, pointed out that it was the best attended meeting in ten years and also the first time that Maruleng was properly represented.

This in itself was a massive positive and a step forward to make Hoedspruit a better place for everybody.

However, the presence of the officials did little to appease some of the guests.

Richard Howie was particularly vociferous in placing the blame for most of the problems squarely on the shoulders of the municipality.

He appealed to the meeting to start a rates and taxes boycott and to not support the officials by performing duties which the ratepayers already pay for.

Smith pointed out that a flat-out boycott of payments was illegal, but options will be investigated and shared with the community.

The massive disaster with the uncompleted water pipeline and numerous irregularities in this regard are all the fault of the Mopani District Municipality.

Residents often blame Maruleng for water and/or electrical problems, however, Maruleng has no licence or responsibility in this regard – it is all handled by the District municipality.

The Chamber assured all present that this meeting was not just another talk shop and action will be taken and communicated on a regular basis to the community.

A follow-up meeting will be held soon.