New Germany residents take back their community
The newly formed New Germany Ratepayers’ Association is calling on the residents to join their efforts and take action on issues relating to service delivery.
A WAVE of change is sweeping through the city as communities are coming together to form ratepayers’ associations. New Germany is one of the communities that has recently formed a ratepayers’ association.
These associations are united under one banner – the eThekwini Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (ERRA), chaired by Ish Prahladh.
New Germany resident and the committee’s public relations officer, Dave Dougans, said democracy fails when people lose interest, politics stops working and fundamental mechanisms that allow for checks and balances fade into the background.
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“This is the takeaway lesson for anyone that gets involved in activities relating to the municipality, starting with the billing system right through to service delivery and rampant infrastructural decay.”
Dougans said there are thousands of complaints one could put on the table. “The powers try to address as much as they can, but in the final analysis, we have to ask ourselves, how did it get so bad, and the only real answer is, ‘because we let it get this bad.’”
He said, “This is evident by the number of people who turn up to vote or the community policing forum participation, which shows the apathy and lack of faith in constitutionally mandated systems that drive public opinion. Less than a point of a percentage of the general public is stepping up and looking for ways to change the status quo,” he said.
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At a recent New Germany CPF Subforum meeting, Prahladh was invited to speak about his plans, and he highlighted the importance of starting a ratepayers’ association for New Germany.
It was at this meeting that residents were also informed that ERRA would be holding a protest on the steps of Durban City Hall where they would deliver a list of grievances to a responsible member of the council.
Given the residents’ ongoing struggle with the municipality, Dougans said many of them showed an interest in participating in this historic moment but needed to be a ratepayers’ organisation to participate.
“We decided to hold a meeting on Tuesday, April 18 to select a committee. The following Tuesday saw adequate support, but enough people attended to vote in a full committee of 15 people in accordance with the adopted constitution of The eThekwini Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association.
“The New Germany Ratepayers’ Association was born on the Tuesday, and by the following Monday, we were on the steps of City Hall with Ish Prahladh and 23 other organisations, demanding to see the mayor. For us, it was a first – we felt a bit awkward, but there were some angry people in the crowd, and their energy carried us. We were informed that the mayor was in a meeting, but the eThekwini speaker, Thabani Nyawose, rose to the challenge and accepted our demands.”
Dougans mentioned that the day was a success and will live on in the New Germany history books as a tribute to the point percenters, those people who helped make it happen and those who were there on behalf of the New Germany Padfield area.
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He added that the New Germany Ratepayers’ Association aims to effect meaningful change in the Padfield and New Germany areas.
“If you have ever stressed about issues such as potholes, streetlights, sewage and corruption, step up to the plate and own your environment, join us in our efforts and support this powerful initiative,” he said.
To join, just send a WhatsApp message with your details to 084 315 8787 or 082 493 4544.
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