KINROSS – Frustration about the deterioration of their once beautiful town is mounting among the residents of Kinross.
Municipal services are at the top of their list of problems in both the town and in Thistle Grove.
Residents are at a stage where they schedule their lives and activities around the availability of water and electricity supply.
“We are almost constantly without water and the electricity supply is completely unstable. We never know when the electricity will be off. And when it is off, it remains off for long periods,” said the residents.
Potholes and sewage spills are seen in almost every street of Kinross.
Then there is also the moral decay in the central business district.
Prostitution is allegedly at an all time high. A resident said that at times the “ladies of the night” can been seen walking the main street almost naked, offering their goods to mostly the truckers passing through town. These truckers stop their rigs wherever and obstruct traffic.
“Where are the traffic department and the municipal law enforcement when you need them?” asked another resident.
According to her, a “house of ill repute” is being operated in the middle of town where scantily clad women sit outside during the day.
“The primary school is close by and many children daily pass this place.”
Other concerns include the number of panelbeating workshops that have popped up in Kinross.
A visit to Kinross’ CBD yielded a count of at least six of these businesses within about five blocks.
Residents wanted to know if this contravenes municipal by-laws.
Mr Ben Makola of the ANC is the Ward 17 councillor for Kinross. He said the biggest problem residents in Kinross and Thistle Grove face, is the water supply.
“This challenge is caused by old, aging water pipes that burst at any time.
“After a pipe has been fixed, the reservoir needs to be filled with water and this takes time. The town will be without water during that time,” explained Mr Makola.
If another pipe then burst in this period, the water supply will be influenced even longer.
Ms Mariaan Chamberlain, the DA’s constituency chairman in Govan Mbeki Municipality, said the water and electricity problems are due to poor maintenance.
“The level control switch cable is disconnected at one of the water pump stations.
“Kinross has five pump stations to pump waste water to the treatment plant, of which two are out of order and the delivery line is leaking on another.
“The municipality has neither the material nor the budget to repair this,” said Ms Chamberlain.
Sgt Jaco Nagel, spokesman for the Kinross Police, said their biggest headache in town is alcohol-related and social crimes, such as brawls, violent fights and rape.
Mr Donald Green, spokesman at the Govan Mbeki Municipality, said residents have the chance to be part of the decision making process when they take part in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), a five-year plan which local government is required to compile to determine the development needs of the municipality.
“Because things can change quickly, the IDP is reviewed annually. The review process incorporates public participation, which gives citizens the chance to highlight and prioritise their development needs. The municipality encourages citizens to participate in IDP meetings to ensure that their needs are made known.”
Mr Green said residents can also communicate with the municipality via their Ward committees and Ward councillors.
Regarding the municipal by-laws on business, Mr Green referred the newspaper to the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s programme to review its business by-law to ensure compliance with legal prescripts. Public meetings on this issue were held back in 2017.
