City lacks adequate resources to serve residents
ALEXANDRA – For three weeks, residents from various wards in the community could not get proof of residence from their councillors because there were no printer cartridges.
The City of Johannesburg has failed to supply adequate services to the people of Alexandra as enshrined in the Freedom Charter.
This comes after residents from different wards in the community who were seeking proof of residences from their respective ward councillors returned home empty-handed because there was no printer cartridge to print the documents required.
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Ward 105 councillor, Tefo Raphadu said for the past three weeks, some councillors could not print proof of residences because of this issue.
“This is frustrating because the whole set up around Alex is that the majority of people need them [proof of residences] to access other services like booking for their driver’s licence and to look for work, and we cannot help them,” Raphadu said.
He said that councillors were being seen as people who did not want to provide services to people who put them in office.
“We are now being seen as typical councillors who do not want to serve the people just because ‘there is no cartridge’.
“Most of these people are angry at us and some even call us names because they think we are just making excuses to avoid doing our work, but we are not at fault.”
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Raphadu said that during last month’s councillors’ forum with the speaker of the City, the issue was raised and they were assured that it would be resolved soon.
“Weeks later, the problem still stands. People are frustrated, and it is understandable because they need these in order to better their lives.”
Raphadu said for an institution that is supposed to offer services to people, running out of essentials like a printer cartridge was unacceptable.
Roseline Molete, a resident who has been travelling back and forth to Raphadu’s office for a week, said she had lost hope.
“I need proof of residence to book a driver’s licence, but it does not seem like I am going to get it anytime soon,” she said.
She said she could be using the money she spends on taxis for something else that she needs.
“As a job seeker, I need to print out my CVs, make copies of my documents and spend money on postal services, but here I am spending money every day to come here.”
Cartridges were delivered to councillors offices this week.
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In response to Alex News’ enquiry, media relations officer for the City’s group communications and marketing, Thembelihle Radebe said the supply chain through a request-for-quotation process takes about three weeks to be completed.
He said new processes for ordering and purchasing essentials is underway.
“The City is on the verge of finalising the permanent appointment of service providers through processes to supply and maintain photocopiers for the next three years. With the service providers on board, we hope everything will be smooth.”
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