CHARL CILLIERS – Govan Mbeki Municipality held a budget consultation meeting in the open at the Charl Cilliers Police Station on Thursday, 14 April.
Residents said they were not surprised to have the meeting out in the open, because there is no community hall in this town.
They listened to Mr Thami Dlamini from the Department of Finance who explained the proposed budget to them, but when nothing was said about Charl Cilliers, they became angry.
The residents asked Mr Dlamini to explain the role of the budget consultation meetings, because they attend the meetings every year, but there are no developments in Charl Cilliers.
They demanded to see Charl Cilliers on the proposed budget and some left the meeting, throwing the budget consultation information papers back into a box.
“We are tired of politicians who come to Charl Cilliers and make empty promises.
“Every time you come here, there is nothing about Charl Cilliers and when we ask, you tell us about the multipurpose centre,” said an angry resident who also said they do not want a councillor from eMbalenhle anymore.
They also wanted to know why their ward councillor, Ms Joanna Ndlovu, was not at the meeting.
Some residents said they were not surprised that she did not attend, because she is not affected by the poor service delivery in the area since she lives in eMbalenhle.
The ward committee member, Ms Skhumbuzo Mdlalose, tried to explain, but was interrupted immediately by residents who demanded she keeps quiet, because there was nothing for Charl Cilliers in the proposed budget.
Residents said they want a clinic, a community hall and schools for the area.
The burning issue was the sewer pits that have not been drained for five months and the waste that is not collected.
Mr Dlamini promised residents that he would find out why Charl Cilliers is not in the proposed budget and would give feedback.
