Residents are still gatvol with the City of Mbombela’s (CoM) inability to deliver on their promised Service Delivery Drive (SDD).
Overgrown public parks and pavements, unpruned trees and unkempt grass have still not been attended to. Litter is also a major problem and residents fear criminal attacks will increase as a result of uncleared vegetation. Residents of Wilger, Palm, Alibama, Delta and Wolfaard streets, as well as those residing in certain sections of Dr Enos Mabuza Drive, complained that the CoM is ignoring their repeated requests for service delivery.
ALSO READ: Local news City of Mbombela in hot water for alleged corruption
Despite paying rates and taxes, residents are now banding together to clean their streets themselves.
The unused area at the cemetery has deteriorated even further than ever before.
Homeless people have moved in, making fires and leaving loads of litter behind. The park at the top of Polvy Street has become dangerous, with people consuming alcohol there and dumping the empty bottles.
Despite these complaints, the CoM’s municipal manager, Wiseman Khumalo, insists that litter removal, tree pruning and grass clearing are ongoing.
ALSO READ: Gatvol kick-starts City of Mbombela’s Service Delivery Drive
“Our municipality is servicing 45 wards, some without roads or water. We are aware that the residents complain because they are paying their taxes and rates. We are doing our best to attend to all with limited resources.”
He also reiterated that the SDD is accelerating services and all wards are prioritised. According to him streetlights are being repaired and potholes are going to be attended to.
“Grass will not stop growing, but will be attended to. The litter its beyond our control because we have placed dustbins in hotspot areas, but people are ignoring them. We take responsibility to collect them. Our community members need to come on board and stop littering. I must admit that we have been slow in pruning trees, but we are now attending to them. People need to understand that we serve many, not only those in Mbombela. All we ask from residents is to be patient with us,” he said.
Khumalo encouraged the CoM’s residents to use available platforms to submit their complaints.
