Calls for Ekurhuleni citizens to unite
The city, however, has reminded residents to log calls of problems in their areas with the city’s call centre.
Residents from across Ekurhuleni hope to finally have their voices heard with regards to a lack of service delivery in the region.
This was spurred on by a petition launched by Residents Action Group Bedfordview (RAG) to demand that the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) deliver services to its residents.
The city, however, has reminded residents to log calls of problems in their areas with the city’s call centre. Following the launch of the petition, the NEWS sent an enquiry for comment to the city’s media department.
Along with information about the petition, the NEWS also asked how the city planned to address service delivery in Ekurhuleni and whether campaigns such as #Siyaqhuba had the desired effect.
The NEWS also questioned whether anything would be done differently should future campaigns such as #Siyaqhuba be launched.
Spokesperson for the city Zweli Dlamini said it is expected of customers to log a call for their problems with the city’s call centre and obtain a reference number.
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“This is required so that we have factual information to deal with when investigating and addressing problems, not a generalisation such as this letter (the petition),” Dlamini said.
He added that all outstanding logged calls are checked and managed to ensure completion. “We attend to logged calls within the timeframe. Unfortunately, with Covid-19 and limited resources, we experience delays in resolving issues.
“However, problems that have been logged are being addressed and resolved.” Dlamini added that Ward 20 councillor Jill Humphreys escalates complaints and that officials have a good working relationship with her.
“There are plans to upgrade and replace the ageing infrastructure within Ward 20, and we are in the process of sourcing service providers.
“The intention is to replace pipes that are over 30 years old as well as the asbestos cement pipes. It is envisaged that approximately 50km of pipes will be replaced over the next three years for both water and sanitation,” Dlamini said.
In the February 10 edition of the NEWS, it was reported that RAG launched a campaign to save Bedfordview. Through the petition, the organisation demanded that the City of Ekurhuleni delivers effective and efficient services to residents in Ward 20.
Chairperson for RAG Marina Constas said Bedfordview had become a disgrace and demanded that the city engages with the community.
She said the petition would be served to the Ekurhuleni mayor, Mzandile Masina, and Gauteng premier David Makhura, then with the Parliament of South Africa.
“Sewage flows down our streets. Litter bins are not emptied. Our parks, pavements and green belts are overgrown and unkempt with waist-high weeds.
“Our roads are full of potholes, there are no road markings, streetlights do not work, paving is broken and collapsing, broken and missing manhole covers are never replaced,” Constas said.
Following the launch of the petition, the effect thereof had snowballed and RAG reported last week that unhappy residents from other wards in Ekurhuleni were eager to join in on the action against CoE.
“I was delighted to hear that residents from other wards across Ekurhuleni want to add their voices to the outcry about poor service delivery and justified perceptions of rampant maladministration, corruption and incapacity in Ekurhuleni municipality,” said Constas.
She said when residents from other wards wanted to join the cause, the wording was changed on the initial petition to encompass all Ekurhuleni wards.
“Service delivery has collapsed across Ekurhuleni, so it makes sense for all residents in the metro to unite and demand answers and solutions from the municipality.”
Constas said according to the South African Constitution (Section 152), the main objectives of local government include ensuring the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner and promoting a safe and healthy environment.
“The Ekurhuleni metro is failing dismally to achieve these objectives. It has been failing all the people of Ekurhuleni for too long. The health, safety and quality of life of Ekurhuleni residents and ratepayers cannot be ignored by the municipality any longer,” she said.
Constas called for all residents in Ekurhuleni to unite.
“Now is the time to put apathy behind us. Now is the time to protest with a view to withholding the rates and taxes that go into Ekurhuleni coffers. Now is the time to demand we receive the services that Ekurhuleni is constitutionally required to deliver.”
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