Dark streets and other problems under the spotlight

Good news is here for Ngwathe residents who complain time and again about electricity and other problems, and become frustrated when the Municipality does little or nothing to deal with their problems.
A Customer Care System has been introduced, enabling people to report complaints in person, on line or telephone – and receive a reference number. The problem should be resolved in a week and they will be notified of the outcome by SMS. If complainants are not satisfied they must report the problem again.
This was one of the announcements made at a community meeting organised by the DA Ward 12 councillor Saal de Jager in Parys on Tuesday 15 August.

About 90 people from both the Parys town and Tumahole sections of Ward 12 attended the meeting and aired their complaints to Ngwathe’s Municipal Manager, Technical Services Director, Community Services Director and Technical Manager.
While the meeting was called mainly to discuss electrical issues in Parys and Tumahole, numerous other issues were raised and dealt with by Municipal Manager Bruce Kannemeyer.
Many people complained about dark streets and unstable voltage. “Our response to vulnerable groups – the elderly, children and women – needs to be sharpened,” said the MM.
He gave the assurance that where cables have not been stolen, bulbs will be replaced in streetlights. He also said that stricter action would be taken not only against cable thieves but scrap metal dealers who buy the cables.
Regarding unstable voltage, he said he had asked Technical Services Director Ntoampe Thobela to attend to this serious matter.
The entire issue of electricity and water meters came under the spotlight – faulty meters, bridged meters, wrong readings, lack of readings and “ghost vendors” of pre-paid electricity among other things. Kannemeyer said a door-to-door audit of meters was planned. The Municipality had advertised for 30 meter readers and the plan was to read meters at least every three months.
Among several other major challenges discussed were potholes and streets that are beyond repair, burst water pipes, illegal dumping of refuse, and the need for points where items can be left for recycling.
The importance of Parys as a tourist centre was emphasised, and a resident who told of the lack of streetlights and the rubbish along the river bank received hearty support.