Blancheville needs desperate TLC

Residents in Blancheville feel the noose tightening around their area as service delivery there is non-existing.

January 27, 2021

Zita Goldswain 2 minutes read

Cllrs Roy Cronje and Moosa Bhamjee standing in front of the long grass in the open spaces in Blanchville.

It is no secret that Emalahleni Local Municipality is under severe financial strain. The huge Eskom debt has strangled service delivery amongst others.

Residents in Blancheville feel the noose tightening around their area as service delivery there is non-existing.

The grass is overgrown in public parks and on pavements. Some street lights do wink at you at night, but the rest does not even show a flicker of light.

In roads like Avril Street and a part of Fleur Avenue, you need a 4×4 to make your way to your house.

“We have tried everything to keep our suburb clean, but with all the rain everything just got out of hand,” said Mr Sakkie Coertzen from the Sector 20 neighbourhood watch.

Coertzen said the residents are also not comfortable doing clean-up projects as the Covid-19 pandemic prohibits gatherings of all sorts.

The wards WhatsApp group is also inundated with reports of leaking water meters and sewerage spills.

One of the most frustrating lines reads: “The matter was reported, and we await a response.”

Mr Clive Hatch, chairman of the Democratic Alliance in Emalahleni said communication from the Emalahleni Municipality varies from poor to non-existent.

“Service delivery problems are an almost daily occurrence and in most instances, the only response received ends with the following sentence: ‘As additional feedback is received an update will be provided’ and that is where the communication ends. Very often the problem persists for the whole day even dragging on to a second or third day with no further information forthcoming.”

Hatch hit the nail on the head when he said informed people are a lot more tolerant.

“Nothing causes more unhappiness than being kept in the dark.

When people are kept in the dark and treated like mushrooms, anger and frustration builds up and harsh words are exchanged,” he said.

Probably one of the most contentious matters is that of refuse removal.

While this municipal service is erratic, the notification, if received, is late and refuse has been collected before residents have been notified to put out their refuse bags. All refuse removal schedules should be available and circulated the day before collection for the convenience of residents.

Hatch said communication must be improved.

“Service delivery in eMalahleni is poor enough as it is and a lack of communication makes it 10 times worse. Living in the 21st century in a city that proclaims to be a centre of excellence and innovation poor communication is intolerable,” Hatch lashed out.

Mr Roy Cronje, ward councillor for Ward 20 said a petition is doing its rounds wherein the condition of the roads in Ward 20 is addressed.