Ombudsman tackles service delivery challenges through info clinics

The Office of the Ombudsman for the City of Johannesburg held its annual Citizen Information Clinics under the theme “Working together to deliver real solutions” on February 12 at Protea South Multipurpose.

The clinics bought together Ombudsman services directly into the community.

Local ward councillors, PR councillors, ward committee members, and residents gathered together to raise their concerns and seek assistance regarding service delivery failures by government entities within their communities.

ALSO READ: City of Joburg EMS warns worshippers to stay safe at rivers amid drowning risks

Residents in Region D have expressed frustrations over inadequate and poorly managed service delivery, alleging that some government entities are failing to respond effectively to ongoing challenges.

Ombudsman Advocate Siduduzo Gumede told Urban News that the issues experienced and raised by residents are many and different.

He said most of which include the issues of street potholes, blocked KI installation, water infrastructure, environmental issues, and illegal dumping, amongst others.

“The issues raised today are all about what the City provides or doesn’t. We came to give feedback on some of the matters raised at the previous meeting, to see for ourselves whether any improvements have taken place, and to see whether the City has responded. While we do see some improvements, we have also observed many areas that still require attention,” he said.

Gumede said that during the oversight inspection he conducted, he identified several issues requiring attention from the City entities, including JRA and Joburg Water, as all the problems directly implicate them.

Photographs and videos were captured at the scenes and submitted to the relevant stakeholders to ensure the issues are addressed promptly.

ALSO READ: City of Johannesburg adjusts holiday service hours, reminds residents to settle bills

“Between the Ombudsman and the regional office, there was an agreement to establish a system to track these issues and hold each other accountable. We will also obtain a commitment from the region on when they will begin addressing these issues,” Gumede said.

Gumede emphasised that the community must not damage infrastructure while protesting other issues.
He urged residents to follow proper processes when lodging complaints to prevent the destruction of infrastructure, noting that replacing it is costly and the City’s resources are limited.

ALSO READ: City of Johannesburg councillor gunned down in Emdeni

Ward 130 PR Councillor Siyabonga Zwane said he believes the meeting held by the Office of the Ombudsman is a positive first step toward addressing service delivery issues.

He further stated that some entities have also raised concerns, this includes issues from the Joburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) related to insufficient manpower and a lack of equipment.

“The City needs to start ensuring that the entities responsible for service delivery are equipped with all the necessary tools and equipment. We hope that all the issues raised will be properly addressed and that tangible improvements will be seen in the communities soon,” he said.

He added that the City needs to start implementing educational sessions to teach the community on how to take care of infrastructure, and that law enforcement must be strengthened to safeguard the facilities.