Dark streets compromise residents’ safety
The DA of the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality has written to Municipal Manager, Mandla Mguni, to address dysfunctional street lights in Nazareth, Ward 8.
Over 200 street lights and more than 5 Apollo lights in this ward are non-functional. We have noted that some have been vandalised and stripped from the inside.
As a result, street lights in this area have been out of order for quite some time, compromising the safety of residents.
Considering that residents of Nazareth contribute to rates and taxes, they must receive adequate services like other residents of the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality.
It is concerning to note that the municipality has yet to adopt a plan to maintain and repair these street lights.
Without street lights, criminality will thrive in this community. Several households in this area already have their work cut out in dealing with criminals and house break-ins.
Last year the municipality stated that streetlight repairs are delayed due to inadequate resources and that the municipality receives over 500 electrical complaints after load shedding.
The municipality keeps on emphasizing that their resources are stretched and that commercial households are also logged with lots of complaints.
The DA finds it disturbing and inexcusable that the municipality’s Infrastructure Development Services department has yet to establish a plan on how to deal with its infrastructure and mitigate such challenges.
This is a key component in service delivery to communities. Once again, the ANC administration has been found wanting.
We will not tolerate any form of incompetence in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality. The municipality needs to prioritize such services and review its infrastructure with the view to improve it.
