ON two separate occasions the RECORD was informed that the mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mzwandile Masina would pay Alberton a visit to observe certain problem areas.
Ward councillors for Alberton informed the RECORD of the expected visits from the mayor who is also an Alberton resident. “We were informed by the cluster manager that the mayor will pay Alberton a visit and we were rather disappointed that he never showed up,” said Alderman Bruna Haipel.
On Friday, May 26, a delegation from the City of Ekurhuleni visited some of the sites in question, but again, no mayor was present.
The areas of concern include the Alberton Boulevard, Alberton Library, Verwoerd Park taxi rank, Du Plessis taxi rank, Pieter Uys Avenue (where roadside mechanics repairing vehicles have invaded the area), the Alberton Train Station, Second Avenue garages, Alberton Dam, Padstow taxi rank, the Jackson Dam and the Brackenhurst Clinic.
For a decade now, Alderman Bruna Haipel has been trying to sort out the issues at the Alberton Boulevard especially, but has been unsuccessful. The boulevard is in the heart of Alberton’s Central Business District and is the entrance to Alberton City.
Some of the pressing concerns include trees’ roots blocking drains. The roots are pushing up sewage and damaging the paving, drains and floors of some shops. Manhole covers are missing or do not fit, causing danger to pedestrians. There is also a general state of disrepair – clear evidence of a lack of maintenance and care.
RECORD called the mayor to ask why he had missed these meetings. He replied that promises that he would attend personally had never been made, and that he was busy with many other things such as budget meetings and discussions on expenditure.
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