“To the leadership sitting here: are you fit to run this office?”
This was a question that Kabelo Thobela, a resident of Tenacres, put to the Rand West City Local Municipality officials during the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting in Finsbury on the evening of Tuesday 24 April.
Thobela’s question, which seemingly mocked the officials, was met with great applause from the residents who packed the venue, hoping that feedback would be given about issues raised during a meeting last October. Unfortunately it was not the case.
The residents’ anger was worsened by the announcement that the Executive Mayor, Mzi Khumalo, would not be present. He was allegedly called to attend another urgent meeting.
However, issues were put to acting Mayor Dumisile Sithole, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Human Settlements. He and other municipal officials heard how disgruntled the community was with poor service delivery and how they decried the municipality’s failure to heed their pleas.
“You are playing with people’s lives. Please stop taking people for granted. In the last meeting, you proposed issues and you said you would follow up on them, but nothing has happened until today.
“We have voted you into office, so stop insulting us. Stop disregarding us. We have put our hopes in you, but you are throwing them back in our faces. That is disrespectful. We cannot tell you what is wrong and what is right,” Thobela said.
Kevin Jean Pieter said for far too long, he has been charged exorbitant amounts for his rates and taxes. He was sent from one municipal employee to the next, but the issue remains.
“I have been charged R2 000 for water only, despite being on prepaid and there are no leakages. They simply charge me an estimated amount because the numbers are not making any sense. The municipal employees always say they will look into the matter, but nothing has been done.”
Thobela added that roads and storm-water drains are in a state of disrepair.
“Yet we have a Roads and Maintenance Department. There has been a pothole in my street for the past three years, and it is getting bigger by the day. We as the community decided to patch it up from our own pockets. It is so embarrassing for us to call you leaders,” he said.
In response to the issues, Sithole said, “The issues regarding services delivery in general were raised. People do not only want to speak about things; they want to see things implemented. The message that we are taking back is that we need to come back and ensure that all the things the community has raised are attended to and start happening. We want to ensure you that when we come back, we will bring a comprehensive report so that we can engage openly on these matters.”
Other issues that residents complained about were procrastination by the municipality to respond to their queries, lack of accountability and lack basic municipal services.
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