Newly elected ward committee introduced to residents from the Dube Boxing Club

Ward 38 Councilor Ben Saihatsi called a public meeting on August 23 at Dube Boxing Club to announce the newly elected ward committee members that were voted in on 11 February this year.

“These are the people who are going to work closely with me in dealing with issues affecting the community of Ward38.

“They have already started working and they will be my eyes and ears in the community. The committee is there to serve the people. We are not here to push political vendettas,” said Saihatsi.

Saihatsi said he had invited people from Johannesburg Water and Johannesburg Roads Agency to come address the community but unfortunately the representative of JRA couldn’t make it because he was sick.

The councillor read the names of the people who were elected to their respective positions. The committee had 10 names instead of 8 that was voted in by the community which made resident want to know how the two was elected.

Chairperson of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Milton Mvelase requested that the councillor must remove the two people who were not voted in by the community.

“Investigate and let them do us the honor and remove them in those posts of health and development,” said Mvelase.

The hall was full to the extent that other residents were standing outside and Thapelo Thagane requested that the councillor must organise a bigger hall or the meeting must be postponed until their ability to get a bigger hall.

Saihatsi said he tried to get a bigger hall but that’s what they gave him and the meeting cannot be postponed because people are already in the venue and the flyers were already printed.

“I will try to get a bigger place next time when we have another meeting,” said Saihatsi.

Pinky Mavimbela raised concerns about evictions that are currently happening in Dube and asked the councillor what he meant when he said they are already working.

“People are evicted from their houses what are you doing about it,?” asked Mavimbela.

Saihatsi said it is not only his responsibility to see that people are not evicted but also the responsibility of the community.

“Let us not just stand and watch when our neighbors are being evicted,” explained Saihatsi.

Tumi Pilane from JW said the 6000-litres free basic water was to be taken away from each household from the 1 September.

“The City reviewed the policy and they saw that it is right to take away free basic water and give it to people who cannot afford.

“They took a decision that it will be given only to pensioners, orphans and those who earn less than 5000 and qualify under Siyasizana.

“Because the city was working at a loss, they bought water and not gaining anything, they made a decision that everyone who affords must start paying for water,” said Pilane.

Pilane said the process should have Been up and running now but there were few technicalities and it starts on 31 August.

“All pensioners must go and apply for Siyasizana,” she said.

The community raised concerns about prepaid meters having errors and owing amounts that they don’t know how they accumulated.

Phumzile Qwabe said she was tricked into signing for prepaid and ever since he installed it she has been experiencing problems.

Social Media Platforms for News:

Twitter: @SowetoUrban, Facebook: Soweto Urban News, Instagram: @SowetoUrban

News site 1: Westside-Eldos Urban News, News site 2: Soweto Urban News