Residents of Buccleuch are up in arms with service delivery that is not happening in the area months after the floods hit.
Buccleuch resident, Johan Swanevelder said the suburb has seen a progressive decline in appearance and service delivery over the last couple of years.
“The issues we face are by no means unique – potholes, overgrown sidewalks, vagrancy, derelict properties, unkempt parks and public spaces and illegal vendors – but it seems this is the norm rather than the exception and no one, not the councillor nor the City of Johannesburg seem to be taking ownership of this and this has turned into the ‘new normal’.”
Read Hero in Buccleuch
Swanevelder continued that Buccleuch has three points of entry, one of which is a low bridge across the Jukskei River.
He said the bridge is closed sometimes and when the bridge is closed, traffic is not managed by JMPD and there seems to be no urgency in addressing the issues.
Swanevelder stated that they are in close communication with the ward councillor, “But he seems powerless to secure service delivery from the municipal entities.”
Residents in Buccleuch have taken it upon themselves to clean the area and have removed a lot of the rubble from the bridge area.
Ward 32 councillor, Bongani Nkomo said, “The big issue in Buccleuch is the river area and the frustration is because it has been this way for a very long time.”
Bongani continued that a fix would be to raise the bridge so that everything can flow.
“With all the rains last year the City was overwhelmed with a number of disasters and the area in Buccleuch is considered a disaster area and it is then handed over to the province for attention.”
Read Buccleuch residents affected by JHB storms
“The issue for us has been the time that province has taken to respond to this. Residents will be happy to know that we have been allocated an amount for the rehabilitation of the bridge.
“I would like to thank all the residents of Buccleuch for their unwavering commitment and efforts in attempting to get service delivery for our suburb. Together we have experienced many frustrations and challenges, although progress has been slow I implore your further patience and support during this process.
“The service delivery issues in Buccleuch and the well-being of the community remain a priority for myself and the City of Joburg, and with the assistance of the mayor and the office of the speaker, I am working tirelessly to ensure services to our area. I thank you for being a vocal, proactive, united community who have always been a valuable source of information and advice,” Bongani ended.
Edited by Beryl Knipe
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