Just be there for us – residents plead at IDP meeting

Rand West City Local Municipality recently held a Draft IDP and Budget Review Meeting where they addressed service delivery issues and tariff increases.

• Also read: Say your say at IDP ward meetings scheduled for April, May

Various residents also took the stage to express their anger towards the lack of service delivery in their respective wards. Most specifically, residents from Wards 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 gathered at the Greenhills Stadium to participate in the meeting on April 2.

The MMC for Roads and Storm Water, Yaqub Jeje Legote, addressed the registration of water and electricity meters and requested that all residents’ meters comply with the law.

We as the municipality must also comply with the laws and tariffs. We must ensure all information given is correct,” he commented.

Furthermore, he mentioned an increase in water, electricity, sanitation and property tariffs.

The MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy, Dumile Sithole, explained that due to a lack of budget, the municipality is unable to keep up maintenance.

“The challenges have dramatically increased. The number of illegal connections and bypassing of meters has also been increasing drastically. The issue regarding power outages due to rain and thunder is also a challenge. We will continue to try our best,” Sithole stated.

On another note, Sithole spoke about the road infrastructure as well as water-shedding issues.

The state of our roads is very bad. It is not a state one can be proud of.

“We are also trying to address the water-shedding issues. With the continuous rains, the road infrastructure is severely affected,” he said.

Another issue mentioned was the sewer issues.

“We accept that there are multiple sewage issues, and it is a problem. We know residents are being subjected to unhealthy environments caused by overflowing sewage.”

He stated that from July 1, all asbestos pipes would be replaced. The municipality opened the ground for residents’ questions and suggestions.

One resident mentioned the lack of streetlights, a water leakage that was leaking for months on end, multiple blocked sewers and uncollected refuse.

“Who is going to do all of these services?

The municipality has not been showing up, but I pay for services. You say you are going to increase the rates, but you never deliver any service,” she said.

Another resident expressed, “You said this meeting is about accountability, but there is no action. We have no electricity, no streets to drive on safely, and no visible police.”

The third resident had plenty to say about the lack of service delivery.

“I am disappointed in every municipal body sitting here. You keep telling us that you are trying, but nothing is happening. We complain every day. Even the lawn in front of the municipal building is dirty.

We are the people who pay rates and taxes, and then you come to this meeting and tell us to pay.

“You come and sit here and say ‘pay so that the municipality can fix it’ but I do not want to pay for something I do not get.

“The rates keep increasing – where does the money go? The people from the Gatvol March are still going to continue, and they will move you out of your offices. If you maintained the infrastructure of the town, it would not collapse. You are sitting here tonight because of us. Be here for us!” the resident said.