2016 the year that mayoral committee consults KwaThema community
KwaThema - Locals flooded the KwaThema Community Hall, as local government leaders availed themselves to listen to their grievances, on Tuesday evening (October 18).
The purpose of this intervention follows mayor Mzwandile Masina’s call for his staff to spend less time in the office and more time on the ground, attending to service delivery issues.
Although the mayoral committee was spread out at various venues across the city, the local councillors were also present.
Representing the mayoral committee at KwaThema Community Hall were MMC Vivienne Chauke and MMC Lesiba Mpya.
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Some of the major issues raised by residents included rates, informal settlement dwellers still using the bucket systems, issue of houses, jobs, drug and substance abuse, plus adding of police stations in some areas.
Georgina Mashiane (41) of Ward 78 asked for councillors to help in dealing with young people taking drugs.
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“As the community, we need the help and the intervention of our local leaders because we can’t fight this battle alone.
“Nyaope users are arrested. However, a few days after that they come back,” she said.
Ward 79’s Makhosini Nhlapho complained about the municipality call centre responding slowly to calls, which sometimes are emergencies.
He added that another issue that does not sit well with him, is the issue of housing and how it is unfair for people to find themselves living in shacks for more than 20 years, while they had applied for housing since 1996.
His plea to local leaders was for a request for a bridge at the Duduza Rank, as pedestrians were being knocked down by drivers of vehicles.
Many of the locals also requested an investigation to be launched into the Department of Human Settlements.
The reason given was that most of the people who had applied for houses since 1996 were still without houses, while those who had applied years later were living luxuriously in their RDP houses.
Mkhulu Nelson Nkomo (76) touched on this issue, saying that though he is aware government is building houses, the same municipalities are corrupting the system.
He added it’s worrying and sad that at his age, some of his children who had previously applied for houses, haven’t got them and as a result are still living under his roof.
Though not all residents could voice their opinions, MMC Chauke said some of the issues raised still have to be investigated – meaning a response couldn’t be given at that time (on Tuesday).
“People complaining about corruption in the Department of Human Settlement, must come forward with receipts or proof of who they’ve paid money to, so that we can investigate which government officials are selling RDP houses.
“But not much can be done if there’s no proof.
“Some issues also need to be referred to the relevant departments, hence we can’t answer about them now.
“As for the waiting list, the government has made it a priority and can assure our people that we are dealing with it,” she said.
She added that the government tried to assist with over 200 chemical toilets for the Ekuthuleni informal settlement, however people didn’t want them.
“We encourage locals of that area to speak to their councillor. When they’re ready for them, we’ll bring them in again as a temporary solution,” MMC Chauke added.
Community members were also asked to attend set community meeting, so they can engage further with their councillors on developments happening in the city.
