East Residents urged to join forum
The Community Caring Forum wants to pressure local government to ensure transparency and results in various issues affecting residents in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria.
A non-profit organisation in the east of Pretoria has urged the community to become involved with the work it does.
The Community Caring Forum (CCF) is aimed at holding local government accountable for issues facing residents from Moreletapark and surroundings.
It seeks to ensure transparency and results from the Tshwane metro on issues ranging from crimes, by-law contraventions to social ills and house value-related issues.
“It is important to know the CCF has no political affiliation; therefore, no matter which party is in power, the CCF will work with that party and ward councillors to reach its goals,” said the CCF’s Deirdré van Helsdingen.
“But we will also keep the ruling party responsible for expenses incurred with our tax money.
“We shall, with external help, scrutinise the IDP [integrated development plan] and make sure that our tax money is spent in good faith without corruption, fraud and unnecessary expenditure.”
The organisation, along with others, has been involved in matters relating to the Woodlane Village and the Cemetery View informal settlements located in Moreletapark and Garsfontein respectively.
For more than 14 years the informal settlements have been at the centre of controversy with some residents pushing for the settlements to be moved.
In 2009, the North Gauteng High Court made a series of orders aimed at the relocation or regularisation of the informal settlement which the CCF has been keeping a close eye on.
“We respect all regardless of ethnicity, cultures, religion or sexual orientation,” Helsdingen said.
“We will not tolerate any form of discrimination. We focus on the needs and rights of the property tax-paying residents of the suburb.”
Helsdingen said the organisation needed support from residents and any other stakeholders to keep performing its duties.
“We will aim to build relationships with any other organisations operating in the area, for example, the CPF, Informal Settlement Forum, security companies and churches.”
She said their vision was to bring the suburb’s residents together, not only by uplifting the suburb, but also by supporting each other in business, health, social welfare, by-laws and safety.
“We also aim to employ a full-time project team in each suburb with one cost-saving head office from where admin and controls are managed.”
To find out more, send an email to moreletapark@ccf-group.co.za
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