Tshwane mayor abandons public meeting
Residents are upset after the mayor of Tshwane left in the middle of a public meeting.
Soshanguve residents were left disappointed last Tuesday when Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa left during the proceedings of a public meeting.
Ramokgopa addressed residents at a gathering in Block TT, where issues regarding the Kuka Maoto project had to be discussed with residents.
The mayor left meeting shortly after it started and ANC Chief Whip Jabulane Mabona announced that the mayor had to be rushed to the hospital.
According to Mabona, the mayor had developed a grass allergy.
Before the meeting, locals were assured they would be able to participate in a question and answer session with the mayor.
Instead, members from the mayoral committee engaged with the residents.
“That is unacceptable,” said Maria Chauke, a Block TT resident.
Ramokgopa unveiled the Kuka Maoto initiative on 2 March 2015 to fast-track service delivery in Tshwane.
Residents mostly raised issues concerning electricity, high municipal rates, RDP housing and untarred roads at the meeting.
During his address, Ramokgopa mentioned that R407 million had been set aside for tarred roads.
“He made the same promises in 2011 when he came to address us at Kopanong,” said Chauke.
Lucas Matjila, a blind man and father of four from Extension 2, Soshanguve, pleaded for assistance from the mayoral team.
Matjila said he had applied for an RDP house in 1995. He explained to Rekord there were none of the basic services the mayor spoke of.
“As we speak my electricity is cut off because I cannot afford to pay rent,” said Matjila.
“I do not even have a flushing toilet.”
He said three of his children and his wife were also blind and he could not afford to put his children through special schooling.
Ward 89 councillor Lucas Ngobeni said thieves vandalised the electricity infrastructure. He referred to the issue of cable theft.
Ngobeni said he could not deal with residents who did not have electricity and other services.
“The matter can be raised with the Community Development Workers programme (CDW),” said Ngobeni.
Rekord could not obtain comment from the mayoral spokesperson regarding issues that were discussed.
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