Tshwane mayor, Solly Msimanga, has responded to service delivery concerns raised by residents of Soshanguve.
Following a meeting with the residents at Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa Hall in Soshanguve on Sunday, Msimanga wasted no time in dispatching municipal workers to address the community’s concerns.
The purpose of the meeting was to provide feedback to the community regarding the adopted 2017/18 IDP and budget. Residents raised concerns over the unabated littering and dysfunctional street and high mast lights that needed urgent attention.
“Wasting no time, I committed to start fixing the problem areas immediately. I am happy to indicate that clearing of illegal dumping sites and fixing the street and high mast lighting started the next day [Monday],” said Msimanga.
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He said filth in the city overall was a concern and the management of illegal dumping, littering and cleaning of public areas must receive attention.
“The speedy response to clearing illegal dumping sites is informed by the City’s Vision Zero Waste approach – a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycle so that all products are reused. No trash is sent to landfills or incinerators,” he said.
Residents raised concerns about two new informal settlements that needed rudimentary services. It was also raised that 92 RDP houses had been invaded in Block JJ and HH.
Responding to the concerns, Msimanga said the City would provide the rudimentary services and schedule a shack marking process for the two informal settlements.
“A common infrastructure challenge raised was the tarring of roads and insufficient stormwater drainage systems. The community experience discontent with dust, flooding and movement challenge when it rains.”
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To this Msimanga indicated that the City had put aside R2.2 million in the current financial year to maintain gravel roads and repair the drainage system.
Noting that occasional clearing of illegal dumping sites was not a sustainable solution, Msimanga emphasised the need for the community to be disciplined and take care of their environment.
He said it was disappointing to see so many illegal dumping sites in the townships.
“Not only do they pose a health risk but they undermine the aesthetic appeal we are trying to introduce into our areas.”
He said neighbourhoods should be cherished and protected as they were places to raise families and create fond memories.
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“We are doing no justice by continuing with the bad habit of dumping as it inevitably chases away investment and township tourism.”
He said the metro would continue to fulfill the people’s mandate by providing rubbish removal services and the enforcement of bylaws such as against illegal dumping.
With regard to water and meter leaks complaints and backlogs, “the region has assigned two teams per ward to assist with the reduction of backlogs. The output of each team is 10 meters in a day” said Msimanga.
in the city overall
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