Service delivery failures in the extreme
Among Ubombo's service delivery woes are telephone lines that have been out of service since December
UBOMBO residents are feeling decidedly cut off from civilisation as they are left with out-of-service telephone lines and numerous other service delivery-related issues.
Telkom telephone lines, with the 035 595 code, have been out of service since early December and residents have been left in the dark as to the cause of the failure and when, or if, they will be restored.
Not only are residents affected, but government departments, including the police station, local departments of Social Development, Justice, Education, Home Affairs and the magistrate’s court are unable to function properly.
Bethesda Hospital, the only hospital in the immediate vicinity, has had to use an alternative number, with the code 035 831, to ensure patients can contact doctors, the ambulance and other health-related services.
Telkom was contacted but did not respond.
Still more issues
Ubombo’s woes do not end with perpetually faulty telephone lines.
Water provision has been scant, at best, for years.
One resident was informed by the municipality that, ‘New pumps were installed and water supply was restored but not in a sustainable manner’.
‘More attention should be paid to resolve the electrical failure because the pumps are not automated and running them manually does not allow the system to balance the supply evenly.
‘The superiors are promising, but the result is not positive yet to the satisfaction of the public’.
A contract for water-related improvements to both Ubombo and Mkhuze was reportedly awarded some years back but no improvements appear to have been carried out.
uMkhanyakude District Municipal spokesperson agreed to look into it but did not issue a statement.
Litter is also a major problem, with Mkhuze’s seemingly unmaintained landfill site spilling over onto the road and natural environment.
Jozini Municipality‘s Director of Community Services, John Khumalo, said the municipality cannot fence the current site as it is not suitable but they are in talks with a nearby landowner to move the landfill site to more suitable premises.
It will then be fenced with concrete pallisade fencing.
‘The challenge is that there are refuse scavengers who, after we have deposited waste, move like a swarm of bees removing what they need to recycle,’ said Khumalo.
Additionally, the municipality’s TLB is out of service.
‘A project will be implemented next week to clean the roadside, a sight we are unhappy to see, as this not only affects the environment but scares away tourists to our beautiful establishments’.
