The sight of a furniture removal van driving in mid-town to park in front of a house, is a clear indication of a local’s service delivery frustrations.
The water crisis in Ward 10 has been given publicity in a previous edition and one of the raw water pumping units at the Standerton Water Treatment Plant was faulty and being repaired.
Lekwa Municipality was abstracting and purifying less water and water supply to wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 15 were affected on February 19.
Lekwa indicated that a service provider will fast-track the repairs and this message on their Facebook-page, was met with some chagrin.
According to a WhatsApp-message of the councillor of Ward 10, Ms Wilma Venter, a meeting was held on February 23 to discuss the water network.
Another pump is seemingly on the way, scheduled for Monday, February 28 which will bring some relief.
Modifications to the network were discussed.
The community also has to contend with sewage issues.
A resident from Roan Street in Kosmospark is in the unenviable position of having a blocked sewage line next to his house.
He has been corresponding with the administrator, Johann Mettler, since August last year.
A reference number had already been obtained from Lekwa and as a final resort, the resident contacted the Standerton Advertiser last week.
A WhatsApp-message was sent to the communications manager of the municipality, Thobeka Mtshiselwa, on Thursday, February 24 at 10:08.
The reference number was supplied to Lekwa and assistance requested.
The communications manager read the message and wanted to know the date of reporting the issue.
She replied the same day at 11:13 that an order for an excavator has been received.
“We are waiting for it to be delivered,” she said.
“The whole line has collapsed.”
A blocked manhole at the intersection of Coligny Street and Joubert Street also poses a problem for residents.
Locals as a rule post their problems on WhatsApp-groups to set the ball rolling and also contacted the municipality for a reference number.
This specific manhole has been overflowing into a resident’s yard since February 22.
According to the resident, it happens frequently.
After a quick survey of blocks in Handel Street, between Caledon Street and Beyers Naudé Street, the lush vegetation in front of the mosque pointed to a leakage.
Refuse was collecting at the hole and rubbish are ditched in open spaces any which way.
Lekwa Clean Up Crew and Northern Light Foundation have their work cut out to clean Standerton River Park.
Heaps of sand were seen near the gymnasium on February 24.
For their part, the municipality has embarked on a cleaning programme in different wards, with IDP and budget consultation meetings gathering momentum.
The Standerton Advertiser contacted the mayor, Louis Delani Thabethe, the past week for comment on the service delivery challenges in town.
Readers will be updated on his views.
