The Courier caught up with a few residents following the well-attended imbizo last week. Read on for their reactions to the meeting.

Colin Mansfield (Ballito):

“It was a very positive meeting. I was impressed with the mayor and I’m hopeful of better governance this time.”

KwaDukuza Residents Forum director, Mark Whitehead (Ballito):
“I think the meeting was good, but you still have CFO Rajcoomar stating that there is no financial risk to the municipality despite a gaping hole of R500-million of electricity that is being stolen.”

“Rajcoomar skirted around the issue and Jali didn’t answer any questions sufficiently. Every year we come here and it’s the same problem. Jali is still running the electricity department, so the problem is never going to be sorted.”

Patrick Viljoen (Ballito, pictured) and Ballito Neighbourhood Watch vice-chair Lionel Stringer (Chaka’s Rock):

“At least the mayor showed up. People are no longer tiptoeing around the subjects; they are holding the municipality to account for their actions. There was a frankness. We get to the point and we demand answers,” said Patrick.

“We must credit the new mayor, who seems to be getting things done or attempting to fix long-standing issues and pledging transparency,” added Lionel.

KwaDukuza Residents Forum chairperson, Warwick Chapman, (Salt Rock):

“The biggest issue was the electricity department’s lack of answers. Electricity is the single largest revenue stream for any municipality, but KDM loses more revenue than it makes profit.
“It’s simple arithmetic: KDM must make more money from selling electricity than they buy from Eskom.”

Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers COO, Mary Kassam (Ballito):
“The mayor set the tone for his administration prior to the imbizo, but he reaffirmed his commitments with his remarks to residents and civil society organisations”
Kassam also praised executive director of community services Siyabonga Khanyile, who offered to work with residents to rehabilitate Willard Beach’s ablution facilities.
“This is a perfect collaboration of co-governance in action.”

Sandy Harvey and Vanessa Ashby (Ballito):
“I’m excited about the new mayor. He seems committed and didn’t call in sick, and he answered all the questions, which was a bonus,” said Vanessa.
“It was a positive meeting, except for the ineptitude of the ED Jali, who we could not understand. He seemed to be the biggest problem,” added Sandy.

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