Frustration mounts about lack of service delivery
The residents said they were surprised when their application to march to the Nkomazi Local Municipality for basic services, was turned down.
JEPPE’S REEF – Residents of Zone 10 are not happy about the delivery of basic services in the area.
Delegates who visited Mpumalanga News last week said they were tired of empty promises made by leaders of the ruling party and wanted the party to address them immediately.
In October last year they reported to the area’s councillor about the alleged continuing illegal closure of water pipes by an unknown person. “We asked the councillor to solve this and she promised to install a new valve for our section but didn’t,” said Mr Mduduzi Nkambule, a resident. They added that they had to walk long distances to fetch water and were also also furious about a recently collapsed bridge over Ngugwane River, which had to date claimed three lives. The area also hasn’t had electricity since people started to live there in 2007. They added that two children were burnt to death in 2011 after the shack they were sleeping in caught fire from a candle.
The residents said they were surprised when their application to march to the Nkomazi Local Municipality for basic services, was turned down. Attempts to get comment from municipality spokesperson, Mr Cyril Ripinga proved fruitless.
Jeppe’s Reef councillor, Cllr Gugu Nkambule, said a report had been submitted to the municipality about service delivery concerns in Jeppes Reef. “The municipality is still consolidating disaster reports from the whole area, not just in Zone 10. I will be addressing the community on April 18,” said Nkambule.
On the other hand, Col Leonard Hlathi reported that 20 people had drowned in the province since March 4. “This is of serious concern to us despite the fact that we had issued warnings to avoid rivers as they were still flooded. We continue to call on members of the public to be cautious.”
