In response to a letter published on April 29 by the Express titled, Kempton in a downward spiral, Ward 16 Clr Jaco Terblanche commented as follows:
The challenge that I have as a councillor is the lack of services delivery and by-law enforcement in Ward 16 especially in the Kempton Park extensions and the Kempton Park X2 areas.
The lack of social housing created the opportunity for so-called developers to buy houses in the area and change it into little backroom shacks. Some of the stands have more than 30 rooms. Such developments create an inner slump, which creates the opportunity for undocumented people to move into the area.
Vagrants have also taken over the parks, while overcrowded stands without enough bathroom facilities are the order of the day. Since becoming a councillor in 2011, I took up the following issues:
Illegal buildings
The City of Ekurhuleni Building Department issue notices to the owners of the stands that have extra rooms without the approval of building plans. The buildings are constructed without any inspection by the building inspectors and the National Building Regulations. The owners simply do not adhere to the notices issued by the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE). The cases were referred to the legal department of the CoE. The previous mayor started the Clean Up Kempton Park project in 2012 and this was followed by the 2014 Building Control Project.
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Thirty houses with illegal buildings were identified and a request was sent to the Legal and Corporate Department to be prioritised. Mayor Masina in February 2017 with his Siaquba programme, reinvented the wheel and identified the same places to be demolished. Questions to council in March 2021 identified five demolishing orders that were issued by the High Court but were never implemented by the CoE due to a lack of funds in the budget.
I have had meetings with the Legal and Corporate Department to implement the court order. I am waiting for feedback.
Upgrade of the infrastructure
The water, sewer and electricity infrastructure cater for households of an average of five people per house. The block of flats that were developed paid for the upgrade of the electricity in the area.
The Water and Sewer Department upgraded the sewer lines in 2015. They also regularly monitor the water capacity for the area.
Rodent control
Due to the amount of waste in the area, there is a rodent problem in Kempton Park, The environment health inspector fine residents while educational programmes for the community are held.
Homeless
People living on the streets is a dire problem. They are moving into every open space. The CoE does not have any policy to assist the homeless. MES Kempton Park did make some proposals to the CoE in 2014. There was a principle agreement that the CoE will provide the building to accommodate them and MES will do the administration of the shelters. It was never implemented.
Illegal dumping
This is a big problem. Residents do not want to fetch extra wheelie bins for all their waste, while the CoE does not remove any extra black bags. The transfer station in Highveld Road is not functioning properly. It is always closed due to the station overflowing with waste as compactors do not work. I continue to take up these issues with the CoE on behalf of the community.
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