eMBALENHLE – The residents are displeased with Govan Mbeki Municipality over what they describe as deteriorating service delivery in the area.
Locals said they are facing difficult conditions daily while politicians are fighting for positions.
They are complaining about sewage overflowing in nearly every street.
In Extension 18 alone, sewage has been overflowing since 2011 and this has allegedly resulted in some residents contracting swage-related illnesses such as diarrhoea and infections.
Members of the Nhlapho family who live in Extension 12 have been struggling to get help from the municipality to fix an overflow in their yard.
Mr Josia Nhlapho reported the matter to the municipality through the call centre, as well as his ward councillor.
These efforts proofed to be futile.
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He then contacted the DA councillor, Ms Anita Mkhwebane, who tried to help without any luck.
Ms Mkhwebane said she was disappointed with the municipality’s lack of help.
“I personally spoke with Mr Den Nhlapho, MMC of Technical Services, who referred me to the acting director who promised to send somebody to have the problem fixed, but they never pitched up.
“This not right. People are suffering while they are paying for services. There is no service delivery in the area. What are the workers doing and what are they paid for?
“They always have excuses for not doing their job, they either do not have the necessary tools or they blame it to the recent torching of the municipal buildings and fleet.”
Residents are also complaining about eMbalenhle becoming filthier by the day due to illegal dumping that is spreading though the township.
People are dumping refuse even along the sides of road because the municipality no longer collects refuse.
Local youths said their sports fields and parks are becoming dumping areas.
Mr Thabo Tholo, team manager of Rising Stars Football Club, said his team had to vacate their home ground in Extension 4 due to uncut grass in the field and locals dumping refuse on the grounds.
He said the Fluor Daniel Soccer Stadium is in ruins and he blames the municipality.
“I went to nearly every municipal office to request that they clean the field, but nothing has been done yet.
“In some instances the officials demanded bribes before they wanted to help me.
“What must the youth do now, should they resort to crime and substance abuse?
“We call on the municipality to help us.”
Mr Bheki Kubheka, senior manager in the office of the municipal manager, promised to send the newspapers a press statement regarding the issues in eMbalenhle, but it had not been received at time of going to the press.
