Residents of Ward 9 voiced their concerns about local municipal issues during a community meeting organised by the Ward 9 Task Team.

Ward 9 councillor Tewie Botha said they elected the task team at the end of September. They planned to meet with the mayor and other stakeholders to address problems in their ward; however, no such meeting has taken place.

Chairperson of the task team, Pastor Willie Brand, explained that one of the ward’s issues is the water supply. He noted that Rand Water has implemented a 20% reduction in water. Additionally, the Greenhills area is higher than the rest of Randfontein, meaning its reservoir takes longer to fill. He expressed hope for the community to unite and hold those responsible for the water shortages accountable.

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Hope Mapulane, a resident and member of the task team, added that the water issue stems from debt owed by Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) to Rand Water. She stated that despite paying their bills monthly, they do not receive services, and their bills are not reduced when there is no water. She questioned where the money meant for water is going.

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Resident Gerrie Cloete mentioned that residents do not want water tankers to be dispatched to solve the problem; rather, they want the infrastructure to be maintained. He reiterated that debt is the primary concern and questioned why the municipality cannot use the money spent on water tankers to settle this debt.

Another resident pointed out that his neighbour is 60 years old and raised concerns for the elderly, asking how they can make use of the tankers, especially those at work during the rounds.

One resident inquired about the next steps regarding the water issue, asking whether legal action could be pursued. She also stressed that residents’ basic needs, including electricity and infrastructure, should be prioritised, mentioning exposed electrical boxes as a safety hazard, particularly for children and during rain.

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Another resident reiterated concerns about the whereabouts of the money, suggesting an audit to determine how funds are being allocated.

A further issue raised was the condition of Northway Road. Task team member Dudu Nhlangothi stated that the road is below standard and questioned the criteria used for repairs, which covered up to 800m of the road.

RWCLM was approached for comment, and spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa said, undoubtedly, some concerns raised by the community are valid.

“The municipality has developed a comprehensive plan, beginning with fixing potholes in the city and prioritising Northway Road. Regarding vandalised danger boxes, we have conducted an audit and are actively working to resolve the issue. While we address these problems, we strongly urge communities to report any criminal activity to the authorities. I remind everyone that the municipality will not install danger boxes without covers; those without covers have been vandalised.”

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He added that updates on the water situation are provided almost daily.

The meeting concluded that the community could stand together to address these challenges.