East residents demands improved service delivery
‘Since we started staying here the area had seen no new development.’
Residents of Pienaarspoort and Kopanong informal settlements in the far east of Mamelodi have accused the Tshwane metro of putting their health at risk.
They have complained that they were promised proper infrastructure since 2015, and yet now they were left with dirty mobile toilets and leaking JoJo tanks. This forced them to walk long distances to fetch water with buckets.
The Tshwane metro has refuted these claims saying allegations made by residents were not true and that “everything is in order”.
Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro had recently conducted an inspection of the area and found everything was above board.
“Our regional co-ordinator on the ground accompanied by a community leader in the settlement held an inspection to establish facts regarding the accusations. The findings revealed that the allegations made were unfounded and devoid of the truth,” said Mashigo.
He said irrespective of the fact that the place became muddy as a result of continuous rain, all water tanks were filled to capacity and all the toilets were maintained in line with the general conditions of the contract.
“Tanks that are leaking are attended to as and when they are identified and reported to the co-ordinator by community leaders,” he said.
“If there is any proof that the ablution facilities are not well-serviced, as well as water provided through the static JoJo tanks, that evidence will be looked into. The metro has satisfied itself that all is in order.”
Community representative Freddy Mosese said the issues residents were complaining about were “very real”.
“We have to wait for weeks for the mobile toilets to be drained and properly cleaned instead of twice a week,” said Mosese.
Residents also claimed the mobile toilets were not enough to accommodate all the residents in the area.
“We have small children in the area and if unattended to they might end playing inside the filthy toilets.”
Mosese said no one cared about them “including the government we voted for”.
“The trucks delivering water no longer fill up some of the Jojo tanks in the area because they are leaking. We have even tried fixing the leaking tanks ourselves,” said Mosese.
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