Resident not discouraged
The first clean up was at the intersection of Van Buuren and Kloof Roads on January 14.
A Bedfordview resident has accused fellow resident Mr Nick Rogerson of perpetuating incompetence by the City of Ekurhuleni.
In a letter to the NEWS, Mr TM Boltar said he was not impressed by Mr Rogerson’s call for residents to clean up the town.
Last month, Mr Rogerson partnered with residents to conduct a series of clean-up events along Bedfordview’s busiest roads and pavements.
The first clean up was at the intersection of Van Buuren and Kloof Roads on January 14.
“Instead of using his own trucks, spades and forks, petrol and volunteers’ labour, to clean public roads in Bedfordview, he [Mr Rogerson], should rather organise property owners, who pay hefty monthly rates and taxes, to hold the municipality responsible,” said Mr Boltar.
When Mr Rogerson first put the call out to residents on social media, residents responded by offering help.
According top Mr Boltar, Mr Rogerson and the residents are not doing the community a favour by doing a job they pay the municipality for.
He said instead, they are allowing the municipality to avoid its responsibilities.
“It is not clever to do the work you are paying someone else to do. The smiling Bedfordview resident with a spade across his shoulder, should be fuming and demonstrating against the municipality’s exploitation of ratepayers and property owners,” wrote Mr Boltar.
The ward 20 councillor, Clr Jill Humphreys, joined Mr Rogerson during the clean up.
She said it was clear that the community is fiercely proud and energised about restoring the town to a clean and beautiful living space for all families.
“Also, many are angry that we the residents, are taking up the job of a failing metro – while paying exorbitant rates. We have to pay the rates. Withholding rates has never worked. It has been tried but has not worked. However, we do have an option of forming a City Improvement District (CID) or similar organization… and taking charge of the numerous failing issues that irk us daily.
We are in discussion regarding such a plan and will post developments on this site.
Mr Rogerson said his intention with the campaign was not to allow the municipality to avoid its responsibilities.
“The call to action was merely to highlight the urgency of neglect of service delivery in the area and not to boast as per the accusations. It was out of pure desperation watching Bedfordview turn into pure decay. I am a humble person trying to make improvements to the neighbourhood. I believe positive steps taken at grassroots level are the way forward,”said Mr Rogerson.
He said the date for the next clean up would be announced.
