Residents of Ward 6 in Dalmada during a recent community meeting held in Polokwane last Thursday made it clear that they don’t want water from the municipality since they are part of the Dalmada Water Cooperative.
A statement made in the presence of Polokwane Executive Mayor, Thembi Nkadimeng further divulged that shares in the cooperative were not for sale and the municipality should not even attempt to be part of the cooperative because the proposal would be rejected. The meeting gave residents an opportunity to raise challenges they encounter in the area and issues tabled included illegal land use, garbage removal and grading of roads, multiple dwellings and small businesses on some of the smallholdings, rates and taxes.
Residents were mostly concerned about illegal land use and multiple dwellings saying their title deeds do not allow for more than two houses on a plot but there were a number of residents who had built flats for rental purposes. It was further highlighted that people who operate businesses on their property don’t even stay in the area hence they don’t worry about sleepless nights due to noisy machines operated at all hours.
One of the residents emphasised that the rates and taxes had increased enormously. She said while she paid about R35 in 2015 costs have increased to R250 per month. Another resident indicated that he had complained about rates and taxes to the municipality several times but his emails are not responded to. He added that the rates and taxes had increased by over 300% from 2014 to the current financial year.
Residents alleged that the municipality last graded the roads in the area 20 years ago hence they are forced to hire private companies to maintain the roads and remove garbage. One resident claimed he has been grading roads in Myngenoegen for five years and reckons that he had spent over R20 000 on diesel.
In response to the issues raised, Nkadimeng said the municipality had gone through the audit process and looked at over 220 smallholdings and over 800 farms and found that 75% of property in Dalmada don’t serve as farms anymore as stipulated in the lease agreement. She addressed the issue of illegal land use saying that it was a long process to get a court order against people who illegally occupy a piece of land. Such a process, Nkadimeng indicated, might take at least three years.
The Executive Mayor further stated that even though jobs are scarce people are not allowed to occupy land illegally and added that there was a new municipal bylaw which would allow the municipality to issue fines to the tune of R10 000 to illegal land users. When responding to rates and taxes, she said the newly introduced smart meters will make things easy for residents. Nkadimeng urged residents to compromise and learn to live with what she regarded as ‘small problems’ and focus on resolving bigger issues.
Polokwane Municipality’s Planning and Economic Development Director, Heyven Kholope confirmed that the municipality was aware of the issues faced in the area but stressed that only 10% of the population in Dalmada still abided by the laws and acts. He further said the municipality was busy with a document that would address the issues residents face and reiterated that the statistics would clearly reveal those who are not adhering to the regulations any longer.
Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
