Randfontein and Westonaria has been named as the worst performing municipalities in the Gauteng Province.
This after trade union Solidarity‘s research arm, the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI), compiled a liveability monitor and the municipalities of Merafong City, Westonaria and Randfontein, all of which fall under the auspices of the West Rand District Municipality, received the lowest scores.
Eugene Brink, senior researcher at the SRI, said the purpose of the monitor is to measure the liveability of the province at municipal level.
Liveability is measured by analysing a range of key indicators as well as sub-indicators falling under it.
“Westonaria and Merafong City both scored 5 out of 10 while Randfontein scored 5,5 out of 10 for liveability,” says Brink.
“According the 2011 Quality of Life index, the level of dissatisfaction in Westonaria and Merafong are among the highest in Gauteng and residents are dissatisfied with, among other things, water supply, sanitation, waste disposal, roads and the cost of services and billing.
“A number of positions in Westonaria are vacant, including that of the chief financial officer and the senior superintendent for law enforcement and security.
“During the past financial year, Randfontein suffered water losses to the amount of R1, 7 million as a result of theft, faulty meters and leaks.
“In addition, it also suffered power distribution losses of R21 million due to illegal connections and faulty meters.”
