Back in 2016, when Zuma was still President and when the country was completely self-destructing and it seemed that all hope had been lost, Ekurhuleni welcomed a newly elected mayor.
During that year, the Advertiser reported how Mzwandile Masina stressed service delivery will remain high on the agenda of priorities of governance in the metro.
Masina, who was elected mayor on August 23, said during his inaugural speech that together with the collective leadership, both institutionally and organisationally, the metro would continue to give critical attention to quality service delivery.
At the time he said the following: “We have to ensure that through our collective efforts, our communities will see a marked improvement in their living standards and living conditions.”
He highlighted the electrification of all informal settlements as a priority, as well as fast-tracking the upscaling of services in informal settlements.
Since he took his office, granted, some progress has been made. For example, a feasibility study into Ekurhuleni’s own university was launched, while mega housing developments such as Leeuwpoort to the south of Boksburg will address the metro’s proposed vision of constructing 100 000 housing units and provide 59 000 serviced stands.
These are all numbers that were given by the mayor during the inaugural speech.
So yes, progress is being made when one looks at the long overdue electricity upgrades underway in Boksburg.
These upgrades became necessary because cable thieves continually looted Ekurhuleni’s power utilities in Reiger Park.
This resulted in perpetual power outages in the area. The looting apparently happened because the metro failed to electrify all informal settlements as was promised by the mayor back in 2016.
Since the beginning of this year, the ward councillor has said that people are unrepentantly resorting to stealing electricity because the mayor has failed to deliver on his promises.
So yes, service delivery remains a great concern for all residents of Ekurhuleni.
Time has come and gone since August 2016, and still here in Boksburg we constantly encounter failing traffic lights, gaping holes in roads, blocked stormwater drains, streetlights either not burning or burning all the time – the list goes on.
It really does not seem as if service delivery is high on any agenda.
Now we have frustrated Jet Park business folk who are ready to move out of Ekurhuleni. They are tired of the poor infrastructure, potholes, electricity and sewerage problems.
This will have a huge impact on Boksburg, and on Ekurhuleni, if these businesses and companies pack up and pitch their tents in another pasture. Is the metro even concerned about this? Apparently not.
This lack of service is quite contrary to what the mayor said in 2106, namely that he wants to see Ekurhuleni transformed into one of the megacities of the world.
I do agree that this is a unique metro and that there is potential aplenty to develop Ekurhuleni into a hub of prosperity as part of the Aerotropolis, but the government needs to come to the party.
As the saying goes: Talk is cheap and the proof is in the pudding. Right now the pudding is definitely not tasting or looking all that great.
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