The Govan Mbeki Municipality is consulting the community on their Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
These consultations are as required in section 25 of the municipal Systems Act to produce an inclusive and strategic plan which is guided by section 37 of the same act to provide household infrastructure and services, creating livable and integrated cities, towns and rural areas, including the building of vibrant and inclusive local economies.
The IDP also assists the municipality in facilitating community empowerment.
When presenting the IDP at Ward 8 at Vukuzithathe Primary School, the MMC for Community Services, Mavis Nsibande, told the community the municipality has worked harder to improve the electricity situation in the ward.
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Nsibande said Ward 8 residents are now facing minimal outages and the municipality cleaned all illegal dumping areas in that ward.
She also warned the community to stop dumping waste everywhere because the waste collection is challenging for the municipality.
Addressing community members in attendance, Nsibande said the council is aware of sewage spills around the township and the municipality is working on that problem.
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Some community members accused the municipality of hiding the IDP consultation meetings because they did not hail the community to attend.
IDP meetings are often ill-attended, such as the meeting at KI Secondary School where no one from the community pitched up.
The IDP is a five-year plan that sets out the development needs of the municipality.
It forms the basis of the municipality’s budget and determines which projects are prioritised and funded in a particular year.
