Tshwane fails to meet service delivery demand deadline
President of Concerned Residents for Service Delivery in Mamelodi Oupa Mtshweni says the MMC for Finance was recently interviewed on a local radio station about service delivery but had failed to respond to their demands.
Days have passed without a response since residents marched to Tshwane House to hand over a memorandum demanding better service delivery.
Residents of Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Saulsville, and Lotus Gardens said they were disappointed because their demands have not been met.
MMC for Finance Jacqui Uys received the memorandum the on behalf of the metro on March 19, and promised to respond within the 14 working day deadline.
President of Concerned Residents for Service Delivery in Mamelodi Oupa Mtshweni said he was disappointed in the MMC, since the 14 days have passed “and we are kept in the dark”.
“The MMC was recently interviewed on a local radio station about service delivery but failed to respond to our demand,” said Mtshweni, demanding that she visit the area to gain a better understanding of why they are making the demands “or better yet, to call an immediate imbizo”.
“The issues she was addressing about service said nothing of our concerns, and it shows Tshwane does not take us seriously,” said Mtshweni.
“Tshwane cares about its Tshwane Ya Tima revenue collection campaign, but in our memorandum, we are raising important service delivery issues that need immediate attention.”
Among the demands listed in the memorandum are:
– scrapping of all bills in informal settlements
– fixing of reservoirs, which led to health hazards such as leaks
– the exclusion of squatter camps from the high estimated bills
– assistance with burial fees and transportation
– paving of gravel roads
– upgrade of “apartheid-like” school infrastructure
– upgrade of sports and recreational facilities to empower the youth, among many others.
Mtshweni said while squatter camps are excluded from high estimated bills, senior citizens are forced to pay and are threatened with final letters of demand.
Mamelodi learner Kabelo Nkoane (17) said he was concerned about his studies should Tshwane “switch off our lights”.
“We were going to do our schoolwork and study at night.
“Tshwane should look at the matter seriously, because Mamelodi houses are owned by senior citizens and survive on social grant money,” said Nkoane.
The residents have since promised to shut down municipal offices should the metro fail to respond within 14 days.
“When they fail to respond within 14 days, a shutdown of municipal offices in the townships is on the cards.”
He alleged the metro had removed citizens of Mamelodi from poorest of the poor (POP) benefits.
The term refers to the metro’s indigent programme.
Jake Simelane claimed this was the final straw that resulted in the march.
“The challenge is that the people are unemployed first of all and rely on grants. Imagine an 88-year-old relying on a grant, and then the municipality comes and says that you owe R4 000, so that’s the challenge that we have, and on top of that, they don’t even have food,” Simelane said.
Mpho Mabala, a representative of the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra), said they joined the march because they have similar gripes with the metro and submitted memoranda years ago that have gone unanswered.
“We’ve had grievances that we’ve sent to Tshwane long ago, from 2017 to 2019, and they never responded; that’s why we are here with Mamelodi concerned residents,” Mabala said.
Mabala said the metro should discontinue the Tshwane Ya Tima campaign, formalise informal settlements, and write off the debt of township residents.
Mabala said that with the prospect of the metro not responding to the memorandum, the residents will stage a sit-in at council offices.
“Our demands are simple… bills and Tshwane Ya Tima campaign need to be scrapped, because of load-shedding.
“The mayor needs to come to our townships and talk to people to get a better understanding of what people are talking about.
“The only mayor who has ever visited Mamelodi for imbizo was Father Smangaliso Mkhwatshwa.
“The rest never bothered despite numerous invitations, including the present mayor.”
Mayoral spokesperson Sipho Stuurman confirmed the MMC had received the memorandum.
He said Tshwane takes the issues raised seriously, and the metro is currently engaging with the matters highlighted in the memorandum.
Stuurman said Tshwane would respond in writing to the residents soon.
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