Mams residents demand better service delivery

Lethabong and Kopanong residents in the far east of Mamelodi threatens to take their frustration of service delivery to the streets.

They claimed the Tshwane metro has forgotten about them when it comes to service delivery, and all the attention goes to Mamelodi flood victims.

Oupa Mahlangu, the community representative, said the Tshwane metro need to stop with its empty promises they give to residents when relocating them.

He claimed they promised residents of Lethabong better service since 2010 nothing has been done for them.

“We are still waiting for electricity, water and sanitation, infrastructure, clinics, school and development skills centres.”

Mahlangu said, “Tshwane metro also promised our neighbour Kopanong residents the same service delivery since 2015 and they are still waiting”.

“Tshwane metro now has turned its attention to the victims of floods in Mamelodi and Nellmapius whom they recently started relocating not far from Lethabong.

There are no new developments in the area compared to other Gauteng townships.

Sphiwe Mkhize, a representative from Kopanong, said “government has forgotten about us, it’s like a dead place here. Everything needs to be fixed”.

“The City of Tshwane has forgotten about us since we were relocated from different squatter camps in 2015 and we were promised better service.

Mahlangu further said they can’t remember the last time they held a service delivery meeting with Tshwane officials or a local ward councillor.

He added that this is the third councillor elected and they all came with empty promises.

Both residents of Kopanong and Lethabong are pleading for by-elections as soon as possible.

The residents were concerned because sooner or later the flood victims will be complaining about service delivery.

Mahlangu pleaded with President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene because “the situation is getting worse almost every day”.

The residents demanded to know when are they going to get the help or service delivery as promised from Tshwane metro.

“We are still waiting for the town plan of Lethabong,” said Mahlangu.

She said the current ward councillor Matlhako Maleka failed to show them the town planning of the area in their last meeting.

Mkhize said Maleka does not care about them and demanded she must step down.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashilo said it is fully aware of the complaints.

However, he said the community receive water by means of JOJO tanks and sanitation through chemical toilets.

“Phase 1 and 2 for formalisation programme has been completed in 2019. When there are complaints the community leaders have access to the councillor and office of the regional head and they’re attended to,” said Mashilo.

The last meeting of service delivery was held at the Nellmapius community hall on 29 January this year and was attended by community leaders and councillors, but due to lockdown protocols community meeting are prohibited.

“The city has committed to providing proper infrastructure and amenities that will benefit the residents.

Mashigo concluded that this will need planning for the laying of pipelines and upgrading of the substation for electricity supply and it’s not an overnight matter.

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