DEAR Editor,-
In 2014 HCM was awarded R1 million as the best municipality in its category in KZN. Councillors who work closely with ratepayers are fully aware of their dissatisfaction and disillusionment with many aspects of service delivery.
Subconsciously one wonders about the state of affairs of the competing municipalities if HCM succeeded in coming out ‘top of the class’ in comparison.
The municipal manager and other top officials of HCM often use the phrase ‘turnaround strategy’ and hopefully this is an indication that there is an awareness that ample room for improvement exists.
At the last HCM Corpmanco meeting with the KZN South Coast Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Assocation, the Service Delivery Charter was discussed. Although members were pleased with the introduction of the concept, concerns were raised that very little had taken place since then.
Timespans within the measurement criteria were obviously not being adhered to. In fact, it was reported that many ratepayers and homeowners are dissatisfied as they experience the current lack of, or mediocre quality of, service delivery on the South Coast.
They remember the former beauty of this coastline and its natural beaches. There are serious concerns among homeowners that their most important tangible assets (properties) are declining in value at an alarming rate.
Cape Town and the Western Cape have been facing the same challenges regarding the outdated infrastructure of roads and stormwater problems, but have indeed brought a ‘turnaround strategy’ to realisation under a highly effective provincial and local government.
Irrespective of the worldwide recession, the real estate values in the Western Cape are still steadily increasing to the satisfaction of ratepayers and homeowners.
We urgently, objectively and honestly, need to identify, evaluate and rectify the decline in property values on the South Coast. This can only be done against the background of some of the most important ‘enemies of service delivery’ as identified by the municipal manager:
1 Roads, stormwater and infrastructure – The fact that the existing structures are old and outdated is observed and admitted. Further to this, heavy increases in traffic have in fact exacerbated the deterioration of the roads. On the other hand, these negative factors apply to most major towns in South Africa.
My real concern as a councillor is the fact that the budget for the department of roads, stormwater and infrastructure is wasted and abused through bad procurement processes, a lack of planning, incompetence of certain top officials, consultants, contractors and a lack of supervision, especially on pothole and stormwater contracts.
I recommend that the quality of workmanship applied in the reconstruction of Commercial Road in Umtentweni be taken as the benchmark for all future road contracts.
2 Cleansing, maintenance of verges – Drive through any suburb on the South Coast on any given day, even after the verges have been cut, and the general reaction will be of one of dissatisfaction. One never gets the feeling that we have achieved ‘closure’ regarding service delivery, due to the residue of cut grass, fallen branches, rubbish and illegal dumping.
Estate agents are worried and will confirm that whilst all prospective buyers appreciate the natural beauty of the South Coast, this positive emotion is however immediately dissipated when customers observe the generally bad state of the suburbs, roads, sanitation and environment.
3 Beach ablution facilities and infrastructure – Without doubt, the South Coast has been blessed with natural beaches and a climate par excellence! That is why tourism is listed as our top economic lifeline.
However, the standard of our beach facilities is third-world. Recently an allocation of R1.5 million was announced to upgrade the facilities on certain beaches. My recent experience as councillor with totally unqualified, incompetent contractors at the Southport and Banana Beach beaches precludes me from becoming too excited about any revamp.
3 Safety, crime and law enforcement – Suffice to ask readers to read the weekly crime reports in local newspapers and to attend any local CPF meeting. We are indeed living in a very dangerous part of South Africa.
4. Water supply and sanitation – It is a well-known fact that Ugu District Municipality is incapable of reasonable service delivery. Even more worrying is the ongoing spill of sewage from Ugu’s water plants into rivers and streams at our beaches.
Indeed, it has become an extremely dangerous health hazard. Top management of HCM must urgently put their money where their mouths are! A really effective ‘turnaround’, in fact a ‘war’ against the enemies of service delivery, is urgently required.
There is no better example to follow than what has been achieved in the Western Cape.
DA CLLR TAP KRUGER
Ward 16
