It is understandable that people are upset about the increase of yet more tariffs.
Most people (if not all) struggle financially and feel dumbstruck by all the taxes and price increases.
Although I worry about our family’s budget with the latest metro’s tariff increases, I do understand that it is necessary.
Ekurhuleni Metro needs funds to keep up the good work.
The previous statement was not sarcasm. We moved from Witbank to Boksburg recently and are impressed with the metro’s service delivery.
Although there is always room for improvement, I want to highlight some of the things most complainers take for granted:
* Refuse is removed weekly.
* Designated areas for garden refuse in easily accessible areas. These areas are kept safe and clean.
* Regular water supply.
* Tap water can be consumed without one becoming sick.
* Except for load shedding, electricity is supplied without frequent power outages. When a power outage occurs the metro has an emergency number that is manned by friendly and helpful personnel. The problem is solved in a reasonable time.
* The municipal offices are clean and manned.
* Most roads are in a reasonable condition. The majority of the streets do not have potholes.
* The sewerage system works.
Trust me, these services are not available in all municipalities although they are expected and even though they are paid for.
If you do not believe me, visit a municipality like Emalathleni (Witbank) and experience the mounting of refuse in the streets because the refuse trucks are regularly out of order for weeks at a time.
Then you find no safe, designated garden rubble areas, which results in garden rubble being dumped on empty stands which are never cleaned.
You also find personal water reservoirs with pressure pumps being a necessity, because of days and even weeks with dry taps.
Undrinkable, unsafe and smelly tap water forces people to buy water or to use intensive water purifying systems.
We also used to suffer from regular power outages that last for days, drains overflowing and sewage running in the streets for weeks and months before being cleaned.
We tend to complain about everything without counting our blessings. Although there are aspects the metro can address to up their performance, I want to congratulate them on the work they do.
