HIGHVELD – The newly elected Govan Mbeki Municipality Speaker, Ms Fikile Nyembe, on Tuesday 8 December, revealed her plans for next year and promised to strengthen public participation.
Ms Nyembe said strengthening public participation can be done through programmes with which she will be informing communities about challenges that derail service delivery.
“Communities should play their role. It is not only the municipality that needs look after the community, it is also the residents’ responsibility to pay for services rendered,” said Ms Nyembe.
She said residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality are aware of Eskom and Rand Water and that delays in payment of these two institutions depend on revenue that is supposed to be collected from the ratepayers.
“Non-payment derails service delivery because the little that we get from the provincial and national government, we end-up using to settle these two accounts.
“The municipality even struggle to fix our fleet because of non-payment of services. That is why we want to engage the communities through ward councillors and educate them about the importance of paying for their services.
“We understand residents’ frustrations, such as unemployment, but there are those who are employed but ignore paying services.
That is where we are supposed to enforce the law by taking decisive measures as an institution,” said Ms Nyembe. She said her office is open for engagement.
She also urged communities to use her office and trust the institution.
She looks forward to engaging with stakeholders.
Ms Nyembe said the 106 investigation report is sub-judice, as some of the people implicated in it have taken the legal route and she cannot say anything as of now.
“I will like our community to take care of themselves as we are facing Covid-19. Stick to the regulations and do not forget to wash your hands, keep a social distance and to wear a mask as we are moving towards the Christmas holidays,” concluded Ms Nyembe.
