Suburb watch with Ward 28 Clr Mary Goby

The City Times and Ward 28 Clr Mary Goby recently took a drive through her ward to shed light on some of the problems within the areas, as well as highlight some of the attractions she is most proud of.

Farrarmere Gardens

This area used to be an old air force base, with an airfield being a base and soldiers lived within the area before the provincial government took over and named it Government Village.

“The area’s name was then changed to Farrarmere Gardens, and this has to be my biggest headache,” said Goby.

“This is all low-cost housing. All houses have solar geysers to help with electricity. There is a hall, crèche and the people here are still struggling. The last problem they need is construction mess and still no title deeds.

“It is heartbreaking to think the government has allowed this to happen. These people don’t deserve this.”
In 2012, there was a project organised to re-do some piping and residents, in turn, received their title deeds and then in 2019 a few more received their title deeds as well.

“To receive your title deed, you must have your own water meter and sewage line into the property. The bottom of Farrarmere Gardens have their title deeds and are happy, but not everyone has received their title deeds,” she explained.

“I thought everything was sorted. When I left in 2016, I didn’t keep up to date, but it comes out now that they are doing the higher end and left the side they were working on.

“Those who didn’t belong to a certain political party didn’t get their title deeds and that to me is discrimination. It shouldn’t matter who you vote for, these people deserve better.”

The project started in March last year and was supposed to be finished in October, but due to Covid-19, it was put on hold before starting up again in July.

“It feels like there is no way forward. I just want to pull my hair out and I feel so sorry for these residents.

“They are entitled to their title deeds, some of them have been living here 15 to 20 years, but there is always an excuse.

“There are massive trenches outside the homes of residents, restricting them access, which aren’t barricaded either and a contractor who won’t have to attend meetings.

“The contractor was contracted by Ekurhuleni and that contractor then sub-contracted a company to do the job,” she explained.

“The contractor doesn’t have meetings, doesn’t pay subcontractors, labourers are complaining that they haven’t been paid and that he is refusing to take their phone calls. There is an issue every day, and I have emailed Ekurhuleni about it, but to no avail.”

Homestead Dam

One of Benoni’s greatest attractions, not only to Goby but also to many community members.

“The geese are such an attraction. We have asked people not to put bread out and rather the proper seeds but it the geese definitely draw people in, as well as the views and braai spots,” she said.

But Homestead, although a massive attraction, still needs much work to fully become the place Goby envisions.

“It needs a lot of work. Rails have been broken, toilets vandalised and dustbins were broken and burnt, but I must say I am very lucky as I have a bunch of residents who came out and welded and painted the rails after raising money in the area and I sponsored the cement and paint the other day. The Homestead Helpers, Homestead Conservancy and the general community are both groups of residents who look after this place as best as they can and I am so grateful.”

Goby has also asked Ekurhuleni to sponsor the dustbins and allow the group to put its name onto the bins but hasn’t had any feedback months later.

“The bathrooms are vandalised and not accessible and I am sure the pipes are rotten. The dustbins are burned and rusty, and it’s just not fair to the residents. We all club in to make a plan to fix problems, we just need Ekurhuleni to respond.”

Mary has also seen the need for wheelchair and pram-accessible ramps.

“I asked Ekurhuleni to put in ramps just wide enough to not let cars in, we will probably have an issue with motorbikes and things but that can always be worked on.”

Potholes

Windermere Drive

“There is a huge pothole at the beginning of this road and I have just given up. I have been asking for months for it to be repaired and it’s embarrassing having to beg,” said Goby.
Windermere road has two sections, one in Farrarmere and the other with the end of the road being as riddled with potholes as the beginning.

“They fixed it a few months ago but again it looks like this and it’s right outside the Planet Fitness gym, so deep and full of stones.”

Stop signs

The stop signs within the Lakefield Extension 21 area are constantly being stolen. Goby has reported this numerous times to Ekurhuleni to no avail.

Cool Runnings and Dingo’s

Goby has asked that if anyone has any complaints regarding these two pubs to contact her directly as she is building a file.

“Cools and Dingo’s do not abide by the laws and it needs to stop,” she said.

“I understand they need livelihood, but the noise that comes out of there is disrupting a beautiful complex. The complex was built for retirement and now the tenants complain every weekend. I don’t mind if they stay here as long as they abide by the law.

“I wish Ekurhuleni would do something. We tell people not to park at the gates going into Lakefield Ext 21 because the people who live in those places open the gates for fire trucks when there is a fire. That’s what you want in the neighbourhood.”

The City Times awaits comment from the metro and Dingo’s and Cool Runnings.

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