Dlabathi was speaking through the Ekurhuleni Syndicate Broadcast hosted by the city’s Communications and Branding Department in Berdfordview on April 19.
The syndicate broadcast is engineered by the City of Ekurhuleni with an aim of ensuring a broader engagement with the wider society of Ekurhuleni, via community radio stations across the region. The Siyaqhuba municipal radio programme is held once a month.
Recently, there have been some land grab incidents reported in and around Ekurhuleni.
In his appeal, Dlabathi advised the residents to be patient with the municipal processes in ensuring that those who have registered for their houses and already approved are being prioritised in the allocation process.
In the region, the community radio stations command an estimated listenership of above 450 000 combined.
The municipality plans to build 159 000 serviced stands.
“Twenty informal settlements have been supplied with electricity in 19 months. We have provided over 4 000 serviced stands. The results are there for everyone to see,” Dlabathi said.
However, the callers could not miss the opportunity to raise their own concerns regarding some service delivery issues in their wards.
Siyabonga Mapete from Ward 45, Somalia Park, Vosloorus, said the local community is not benefiting in the form of employment from the projects that are taking place in their areas. He further complained about the chemical toilets which are unbearable.
Sechaba from Ward 64 said the municipality has good plans and policies but the implementation is poor.
“Why are the people who are given the opportunities and tenders not being monitored?” he asked.
Mfokeng Linda said: “In Extension 10, Ward 84 in Tsakane we want electricity.”
Recently, the residents of Ext Nine & 10 were in conflict regarding illegal electricity connections where some transformers were destroyed.
“All these mattes raised on this platform will be reported to the necessary departments and followed-up as part of our oversight responsibility as council and councillors in our respective wards,” replied Dlabathi.
He further encouraged the residents to be active by participating in community meetings when called by their ward councillors.
Speaking against maladministration and corruption he said: “Without hesitation, all acts and deeds which are intentionally undermining good governance and clean administration must be responded through the established structures within council, objectively and with due regards to institutional processes and applicable legislation.”
So far, 20 informal settlements in the city have been supplied with electricity since the new administration came into office. The city has 118 informal settlements and has committed to supply electricity to all of them within this term of office.
On April 20 Dlabathi attended the City’s Press Club at Germiston Lake where he had an opportunity to engage with various media practitioners on issues of service delivery, governance and state coalition in the city.
He told journalists that the current administration is presiding over a stable local government.
“Our commitment to good governance and clean administration is a standing commitment.”
Issued by the office of the chief whip.
