Phola service delivery problems

Residents of Phola staying in some part of ward 30 have raised their problems in terms of service delivery.
Problems ranges from streets full of water, water-flooded houses after rain, damaged roads, potholes, slower development at Siyabonga informal settlements, issues of RDP’s at Entabeni and many other issues.

One of the roads in Buffer Zone was full of water making it impossible for small cars to travel on the road. The water from road floods to the nearby houses. One of the residents said she has been staying in the area for more than 20 years and after the construction of the road that was left half constructed leading to the road to have the stagnant water. Water just floods the house near the half constructed road.

One of the residents standing in one of the flooded roads to show how deep the water is at Buffer Zone in Phola.

Water flooding in one of the yards at Buffer Zone in Phola

One of the eroded and badly damaged roads in Buffer Zone in Phola.

One of the roads is so badly damaged and needing tar and it makes it nearly impossible for cars to travel on the road. In the other road a water pipe was removed after water flooded an RDP house and the owner raised her complain, again cars cannot travel on that road resulting in a problem being created after trying to solve a problem.

“I have been having the problem of water flooding my house every time it rains. My furniture has been damaged and the house itself is showing cracks because of the water. Recently I had to come out of the house through the window because water folded the door and it stuck. In some of the streets cars cannot pass,” stated one of the residents.

The residents claimed that hearses, ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles cannot use some of the roads.
Residents of Siyabonga informal settlement said they are experiencing a slower development in their area, while the other informal settlements are being developed. They are complaining that no RDP houses are put in their area, there is no electricity and their toilets are not drained.

A road where a water pipe was removed after water flooded a nearby RDP house. A problem has been created after the removal.

Water flooding one of the many houses damaging furniture in the process.

Residents staying at Entabeni have their share of complaints too, they said while others have recently settled in the area they have RDP houses.

“Some of us have long been in the area but we are ignored. We need transparency and fairness in the area. We need to keep to the promises that were made. The mayor was here and knows about our problems,” explained the residents.

The people are also complaining about the overgrown grass and shrubs at the cemetery.
Cllr Chris Mkhabela in his response said he was aware of the problems in the areas mentioned and as the municipality they were attending to them. He stated that a former councillor left the road half constructed and now they have sent proposals to mines to help to complete the road. He also mentioned that all was in the process to formalise Siyabonga and other informal settlements and they waiting for the budget to be approved.

Stagnant water flooding one of the houses in Phola

Overgrown grass and shrubs in one of the cemeteries that need some good clearing.

On the flooded road and houses he said the issues have been raised with the technical department of the municipality.

“Some of the people at Entabeni will soon be relocated in phases and people should just be patient. We need also to understand that some people are raising these issues because of the coming local elections. We want to promise the people that we always deliver as promised even though at times we have to pass through some process,” added Cllr Mkhabela.