Municipality responds to the APC memorandum
The Govan Mbeki Municipality has responded to the memorandam that the African People Convention handed over to the excutive mayor on 28 February.
SECUNDA – Mr Henry Masango, head of Communication and Market of the Govan Mbeki Municipality, has responded to a memorandum of the African People Convention (APC) regarding municipal services, or the lack thereof.
According to Mr Masango, the municipality’s roads maintenance programme is in place until 30 June.
The APC’s memorandum was handed over to the Executive Mayor on 28 February.
In the memorandum, the APC raised concerns about the bad condition of the roads, sewerage leaks and the allocation of RDP houses.
Regarding sewerage spillages, the council said the infiltration of storm water into sewerage lines are full of sand and other objects which can be blamed on the residents, and also because of broken manholes which were damaged by either the community or vehicles.
The council further responded by saying residents open the manhole to throw solid objects into the sewerage lines and that vandalism of the pump station has been one of the major causes of sewerage blockages.
Concerning the allocation of RDP houses, Mr Masango said the allocation is done in accordance with the national housing code of conduct.
The APC also demanded the removal of incompetent ward councillors because of nepotism and corruption.
Mr Masango said councillors are voted for by their wards and are accountable to their political party. The removal of any councillor is not a prerogative of the Executive Mayor , but a political party.
Other demands by the APC in their memorandum, included the building of a primary school in Extension 18, eMbalenhle and the building of a clinic.
Mr Masango stated that education falls under the Department of Education and planning guidelines for primary schools stipulate an average threshold population of 7 000 per primary school and an acceptable travel distance of 2km to 5km.
The municipality said 200 units were allocated in February by the Provincial Department of Human Settlement to the municipality to be built in region two as per segmentation of the municipality.
Mr Petrus Mathebula, provincial deputy chairman of the APC, said they have received the response from the Govan Mbeki Municipality and that APC will have a meeting to discuss this.
