POLOKWANE – THE Polokwane Municipality continued with community consultations on the draft 2015/2016 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget in Greenside last Wednesday.
During the consultation, Polokwane mayor, Thembi Nkadimeng, said projects such as sports facilities, upgrading of human settlements and water systems would be priorities in the 2015/2016 budget.
Other issues raised by the community included lack of jobs, streetlights and proper roads.
One residents, Jaul Lebepe from Ext 44, said they did not have proper roads which made it difficult for them especially on rainy days. “The road from Hostel to Greenside should be tarred because when it’s raining we struggle; both motorists and pedestrians experience problems. We also appeal to the municipality to consider creating a sports ground for our people,” Lebepe said.
Another concern, which was raised by Mokete Mashala from Ext 40, was that a library and healthcare centre should be built in Greenside.
“We need a clinic in our community so we won’t have to travel long distances to access healthcare. It’s painful to see elderly people having to travel to town.”
Responding to the concerns raised, Nkadimeng said the municipality was working hard every year to ensure that better services were delivered to all the communities.
She said the municipality had completed some of the planned 2014/15 projects, including the construction of the sidewalks along Nelson Mandela Road, Ext 78 water reticulation, Ext 78 bulk reticulation and installation of new streetlights that still continued.
“The municipality will utilise the available resources meaningfully and will ensure that the little that is allocated is shared effectively across all the wards in the municipality.”
Nkadimeng further urged the residents to continue using water sparingly as the municipality was facing a serious water crisis.
