Editor
I have lived in Estcourt for the past 21 years and have noticed the deterioration of our town’s roads. Potholes, the unkempt grass verges, the filth in the CBD, the upswept gutters and the lack of maintenance of our streetlights. I am not the only resident to complain but we are ratepayers and expect better services for our money or is it otherwise spent on everything but the up keep of our town. My primary complaint is the streetlights that have not been operational for months in our street, Thomas Milsom Road in the Drakensview area.

I and many other residents have contacted the municipality on numerous occasions to report the street lights outside our homes been unlit at night this is a safety hazard and hijackings could take place as some people work shift work and return home all hours of the night. When I spoke to a person in the services department they said there are not funds available to replace the globes, which have to be imported as I was told by the official. Is there no alternative solution in getting the globes in locally? This is ridiculous and unacceptable as we pay our rates monthly and expect something in return.

Debbie Howlett

A complaint has already been lodged and a job card has been made out. Due to the shortage of energy saving globes that we are currently using, we could not attend to the query immediately however, we are working timeously to attend to all streetlight complaints.
Ms PN Njoko
Umtshezi Municipal Manager