The gathering was held last week Wednesday at the KwaThema Old Age Home hall and residents attended despite heavy rain.
According to government officials’ explanation, the IDP is a process through which municipalities prepare a strategic development plan that extends over a five-year period. It includes the planning, budgeting, resource allocation and decision-making processes within the municipality.
It also includes the public participation process, through which members of the public and other interested stakeholders have the chance to comment on the City’s draft 2016/17-2018/19 IDP and 2016/17-2018/19 municipal budget.
Finance MMC Clr Moses Makwakwa delivered an address pertaining to the IDP, the 2016/17 medium-term revenue and expenditure framework, tariffs and tariff increases, free basic services, social package to indigents, community projects and the EMM’s performance from 2011 to date.
He also shared information on projects that were targeted for improvement that fell within the plan and drafted allocation of expenditures for them in the wards of KwaThema.
Residents were then given an opportunity to ask questions or comment on the IDP and budget and to share what they would ideally like to see being developed or added to the City’s plans.
Most of the residents who were given an opportunity to raise their opinions spoke about roads, the lack of sporting facilities, high billing and indigents.
Christina Moleta of Ward 77 spoke about the lack of roads, a drainage system and pavements in her area, which she asked to be fixed.
Albertina Ndlela of Extension Five shared that some of them had no tarred roads in the area, which meant that ambulances could not come in to collect sick people.
“When someone is sick the family or neighbours have to find a way of getting that person to the main road so the ambulances can collect them from there, as they can’t get to their homes,” she said.
Bafana Zwane complained about the high and inaccurate billing system, saying he had been told he owes more than R35 000, but the bill is meant for another address.
“I have gone to various departments to try and solve this but have failed to get help. Instead I have been told that my lights and water would be cut off,” he said.
Isaac Kgapola of Ward 79 was concerned with the fact that nothing had been mentioned about sports facilities.
He asked where young people could go or what would they could do when there were no development of sports facilities. Such facilities would also discourage them from turning to drugs, he said.
Makwakwa responded to some of the questions, adding that they would investigate other concerns.
