Residents, business step in to deal with service delivery issues in Silverton

As service delivery crumbles in Silverton, residents, local businesses, and community leaders have taken matters into their own hands, filling potholes, cutting overgrown grass, and cleaning public spaces.

Recently, the residents embarked on a large-scale pothole repair initiative, where a local business and hardware provided not only material but also covered the cost of additional labour.

The Silverton Sparkling Clean-Up group also cut the long grass on Jasmyn Avenue, maintaining sidewalks in front of JJ Bosmanhuis flats.

“We couldn’t wait any longer for the city to respond,” said Marietjie van Deventer, a dedicated community activist and leader of both the Silverton Sparkling Clean-Up Group and the Blue Bridge Project.

Van Deventer said Built It stepped up in a big way.

“They funded everything: the tar, the workers’ salaries, and we were right there on the road with the team every day to make sure the job got done. We pay our rates and taxes, yet we still have to do everything on our own. We deserve better, and we are going to keep fighting for that.”

She said a popular meat- and supermarket in the area supported the effort by providing transport for the tar and workers.

“The state of the roads and public spaces, you would swear the residents are not paying their rates and taxes. But we are working daily to improve Silverton,” she added.

Van Deventer said two weeks earlier, volunteers with the help of a sponsorship from Silverton High School and Uitkyk, cut the overgrown grass at the Meyerspark Bird Sanctuary.

“Cleaning that area is a move for making it safer through clearing the hiding places used by criminals.”

Van Deventer said despite these successes, frustrations with the municipality remain high.

“Residents continue to be billed for maintenance services that are not being delivered. A new R194 maintenance fee has recently been added to accounts, even as residents carry out the very work that fee is supposedly meant to cover.

She said service delivery in Silverton is non-existent.

“Not a single turnaround time has been met by the municipality. We dare the municipality to prove otherwise. Meanwhile, we’re the ones filling potholes, cutting grass, and cleaning streets.”

She added that this is just the beginning, with Phase 2 of the pothole repair initiative already in the works. As the saying goes, where the government fails, the people prevail.

Ward 41 Councillor Ben Chapman applauded the efforts.

“This is a shining example of what’s possible when community and businesses work together. I’m deeply grateful to Marietjie and the sponsors for their commitment.”

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