A petition by Ward 9 residents to remove their ANC ward councillor, Benjamin Ofentse is still being circulated to the rest of the residents in the ward.
Willie Maphosa, the J.B. Marks council spokesperson has finally responded to the demands of the ward 9 residents to remove their councillor.
He told the Herald that, ‘many of the facts presented in the story may be true but just as many are incorrect’.
‘Following my research after your interaction with Justice Moabi, I can confirm that councillor Benjamin Ofentse and the speaker met with him and his group sometime last year. Most of the issues they raised have been addressed.
‘It is true that some people were moved to serviced sites in Ward 13. However, the allocation of sites is a wholly administrative issue in which councillors have no role. All wards that have a dire need of housing were allocated an equitable share of sites in Ward 13. Ward 9 was allocated its fair share of not more than 30 sites. Ward 13 underwent geometric tests and was found to be dolomite free.
‘So, it is not true that people were moved to dolomitic areas. In fact, people were removed from these areas to safer places. An example is the old reservoir, where Potchefstroom Herald visited Rosina Shange who complained about illegal dumping and overgrown areas. This is the area around the reservoir that was condemned as dolomitic. All these people were supposed to have been moved to Ext. 7. Some of them either refused to be moved or obstructed the fencing off of the area,’ he said.
In terms of building infrastructure, Maphosa said this is, unfortunately, a long-term issue that depends on the funds available at a particular time. ‘The municipality relies entirely on grants to provide infrastructure. The provision of water and sanitation in this area may be provided for in the mid-term budget after the coming budget’.
According to councillor Ofentse, he has assisted three indigent families who have had problems with their houses falling apart. ‘He says Ms Deborah Sesing has never contacted him about the problem with her house,’ says Maphosa. ‘Members of his ward committee visited the area when they were doing an audit of toilet needs and no one reported this kind of problem. He is inviting Ms Sesing to contact him in this regard.
‘Councillor Ofentse says he has held the required quota of monthly meetings in his ward. However, many of these meetings were disrupted by a small group of people who have alienated many well-behaved people from them,’ he concluded.
*This is a developing story
Also read: Ward 9 community demands removal of councillor
