Frustration continues to mount among property owners near the Voortrekker Street parking area, as little visible progress has been made since the issue was formally raised with the municipality on February 19.

Despite assurances that the matter had been referred to the Community Service Department for urgent attention, as well as being front-page news in the Newcastle Advertiser edition of March 6, conditions remain unchanged. Illegal dumping, human waste and loitering persist, while the Voortrekker SS 65 substation continues to be misused, posing both a health risk and a potential fire hazard.

Business owner fuming

Business owner Roy Maghoo is fuming at the municipality’s lack of service delivery. He says that overgrown vegetation and poorly-maintained spaces continue to provide cover for criminal activity, making law enforcement efforts difficult.

Voices of the public

“If this was reported by the Advertiser, there is nothing more we can do but agree with them. Service delivery is failing in our town, but according to the municipality’s communication department, they are doing well. However, just by looking at the situation, things are clearly not right,” noted Ratepayers Association representative Phil Hair.

The Newcastle & District Residents Forum (NDRF) expressed its deep outrage at the continued failure of Newcastle Municipality to implement and enforce its own by-laws, despite the exorbitant rates being paid by already-overburdened residents.

“This ongoing dereliction of duty reflects a municipality that has, in practice, reduced its ratepayers to an afterthought treated with blatant disregard and contempt,” the forum’s chairperson, Matthew Sunmugam, reiterated.

AfriForum’s Ferdie Alberts told the Advertiser that, “We should continue to pressure the municipality and keep holding them accountable to do their job.”

With patience wearing thin, affected parties are now calling for clear time-lines and visible action from the municipality.

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