IDP consultative process exclusionary in Region B
From audio that was impossible to understand to bathrooms without water, the community meeting was a box-ticking exercise for officials.
Members of the public were invited to attend an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting in Region B to address their concerns about their ward in front of city officials.
Region B has the lowest allocation of funds across all regions, possibly the reason the Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre was packed with residents who unfortunately left the session feeling unheard. The region covers areas from Northcliff and Melville to Roosevelt Park including parts of Rosebank and Sandton.
Read more: Councillor’s Corner: When can we start submitting ideas for our IDP?
The PA sound system was set up in such a way that speakers, including city officials, could hardly be heard as the audio quality was so poor. This meant much of what was said was either indecipherable or lost in the noise from those in attendance who quickly lost interest in meaningfully participating. The audio was so poor it was difficult for this journalist to hear the names of city officials when they introduced themselves.
The same audio feed was used for those participating online.
The manager for Outa’s JoburgCAN Julia Fish attended the event. “Public participation is an integral part of the IDP process. The online audience inputs however can never be considered adequate due to poor audio quality and ability to participate. The city must be held accountable for this box-ticking failure.”
Comments from online participants occasionally flashed on the large screen at the meeting. Some of them were:
- Proper engagement requires all involved to be able to participate – this feels intentional
- No audio
- This is not public participation. Holding a meeting in the afternoon when the majority of ratepayers are at work is deliberate
- This move is to ensure that people cannot participate and express their views not only on the budget but also the state of the city
- The poor state of the audio is a reflection of the city’s incompetence
- Hang your heads in collective shame
City representatives and MMC’s present were keen to assure residents that despite the city having already published its draft budget, they were open to hearing suggestions on how to improve service delivery in the various wards.
Read more: Councillors Corner: How your voice is heard through the IDP
Less than a handful of residents were able to speak per area with wards 68, 69, 82, 86, 87, 88, 90 and 98 being heard. This was the only meeting for the IDP process for the entire region.
In brief, the following issues were tabled:
- Unemployment
- Safety and security
- Dissatisfaction with ward councillors
- Infrastructure
- Service delivery
- Enforcement of by-laws
- Water Security
- Access to city facilities
- Hijacked buildings
- Homelessness
Pastor Cotty allowed this journalist to look at her notes after she spoke because it was difficult to hear. Her views were broad enough to be relevant to all wards.
“Historical debt should be written off and title deeds provided for families that still suffer the negative consequences of poverty. Linked to this is the need for accurate billing and statements by the city.”
She bemoaned the lack of maintenance on buildings that could be used for community upliftment and development with programmes that are run for the youth and other stakeholders.
“Basic provisions of electricity and safe, reliable water are critical to the health of our communities – as is the need for regular cleaning of green spaces and maintenance of city infrastructure like storm water drains and roads.”
Various city officials repeated multiple times that the city is pro-poor and that they will endeavour to deliver better in the upcoming financial year.
It is at this stage unclear who will evaluate and decide on the merits of those presentations that could be deciphered from the afternoon.
Related article: Citys budget and IDP meetings start, heres how you can join
