In a bid to strengthen communities’ participation, the metro’s executive committee goes back to communities to report on what the local authority has promised to deliver in the past five months after communities raised various issues during the first round of the Izimbizo held in February.
Residents from KwaThema, Bakerton, Slovo Park, Neva neva, Payneville and Daggafontein filled the hall to hear what the metro has done since the first round of the Imbizo in February, presented by MMC for finance, Moses Makwakwa.
Communities were also granted the opportunity to ask questions and comments based on the presentation by MMC Makwakwa.
Makwakwa said the metro has delivered on many of the essential service delivery concerns raised by residents. “We provide free water to people living in the informal settlements around Ekurhuleni and the metro has distributed chemical toilets in some areas around Ekurhuleni,” said Makwakwa.
He continued to say about 2830 solar lights have been installed in Langaville extension one and six. Speaking about the toilet development underway in Payneville, Makwakwa said as soon as everything is done and the problems facing the metro regarding the development of that area are over, people will be moved to the developed area. He added that the metro is in a process of building a clinic in Bakerton.
Speaking about developmet in KwaThema, he said the upgrading of the KwaThema Hall is almost finished, while the renovations of the stadium are underway.
He said KwaThema will soon have a new fire station, which is expected to be completed by 2014/2015.
He said KwaThema extension five will soon be electrified and that the hostel will be renovated. “Street lights have been fixed in many areas around Springs and KwaThema,” said Makwakwa.
Mbekiseni Ntshangase, from Daggafontein, said there is no service delivery in their area. “Residents from other informal settlements have received solar lights, unlike us who depend on candles and paraffin stoves for light and cooking,” said Ntshangase.
Muntu Majola, from KwaThema, appealed to the metro that when building RDP houses the metro should ensure the beneficiaries are people who registered for the houses in 1996 and have not yet received their houses.
Speaking on behalf of Neva neva informal settlement residents, Tshepo Malimela said Makwakwa has never kept his promise he made to Neva neva residents, of visiting them to see the challenges they are faced with.
“We do not have streets and roads. As a result, ambulances experience difficulties to enter into the area,” said Malimela. Some of the issues raised by Gugulethu/Everest residents include poor living conditions. Responding to residents’ concerns, Makwakwa said the metro is doing all in its power to ensure better lives for all.
“The installation of solar lights in the informal settlements is still underway and we urge communities to understand that the installation will take time,” said Makwakwa.
He then promised Neva neva residents that he will visit them soon. Makwakwa concluded by appealing to residents to understand that the metro is doing all it can to speed up the process of delivering services to them.
