Ballito residents have accused KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) of poor planning after tonight’s scheduled mayoral imbizo for wards 6, 22 and 30 was postponed amid an unprecedented community turnout.

More than 150 Ballito residents arrived at the Scout Hall at Townsend Park, with only about 75 able to fit inside comfortably and within Covid-19 guidelines.

The event is an annual community participation forum, where residents are able to engage directly with municipal officials.

Department heads deliver presentations on their budget and planning for the next 5 years, after which residents have an opportunity to raise concerns.

This has been a sparsely supported event in previous years, with crowds being made up of mostly civic organisation representatives.

With rising frustration growing in the community however, residents have taken up the opportunity to have their say.

KwaDukuza Residents Forum (KDRF) chairman, Warwick Chapman said that he was disappointed at the lack of planning from the municipality, after he raised concerns about the location at last week’s iLembe Chamber of Commerce imbizo.

“I do not think this was a fair solution given the fact that I engaged in a constructive manner last week,” he said.

After a crowd member suggested a postponement so that better facilities could be found, mayor Lindi Nhaca engaged with councillors and agreed to postpone.

Given the support, school halls were suggested as a solution.

No date was set and a new date will be communicated via your local ward councillor.

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