The service delivery report was delivered by MMC of Finance Clr Moses Makwakwa, who started his address by explaining that the purpose of the imbizo was to report on high level service delivery progress from 2011 to date in wards of KwaThema.
The gathering was also meant to identify new, urgent and critical community challenges that require government intervention, and to further continue with the drive to promote community participation in how the City of Ekurhuleni can improve the living conditions of residents.
Makwakwa reported on the work done across sections of KwaThema, including housing, water access, sanitation, electricity, solar geysers and refuse collections, among other matters.
Locals were then given an opportunity to question Ekurhuleni staff on the presentation given and, at the same time, express their dissatisfaction at what has not been attended to.
There were many issues raised by the community but one of the biggest concerns that came up was housing, where people who had applied in 1996 said they were still without houses.
Residents clapped loudly and cheered as Gertrude Ndlovu from Ward 79 spoke about people who had applied years ago but still had not got homes.
She asked when they would get their houses as people who had applied in 2000 or later were already in their homes while they were still backyard dwellers.
“We want to know how does this system work, as we are still living in other people’s yards years later while those who applied for houses after us have already been allocated their houses,” said Ndlovu.
Another resident complained on being billed highly on his electricity bill.
Curtis Mhlanzi of Ward 77 said it seemed as though the more people paid for lights, the more they were told they were owing, while those who did not pay had no issues.
“Our bills are too high and I have a gas stove but still get billed too much, while no one is able to explain to me why or assist me with my problem.
“Our children also have a problem of being unemployed, and it is sad as people who mostly get employed in our locations are those who come from outside our areas,” he said.
After the questions, officials attempted to address some of the residents’ concerns.
