A ward 19 meeting held at the Robbie de Lange Hall on Saturday raised questions for ratepayers who are concerned about the lack of service delivery in their areas.
The meeting was attended by ward councillor Shandre Hoffman and residents of the Greenfields and Westbank areas.
Community member Evert Terol, who has been a resident since 1982, said: “For quite some time the Greenfields ratepaying residents are reporting non-existing service delivery, safety hazards and health hazards in the Greenfields residential area to BCMM. This was via the previous responsible ward 19 councillor Mr Dick Green and the new councillor Shandre Peffer Pillay. These councillors try their utmost best by reporting these noncompliances and risk to BCMM authorities without any success. Mr Swartbooi from BCMM visited the area with councillors on September 16 2021 and again on January 13 2022 with promises which never [see] action.”
It was also reported that ward 19 would be given R1m in the new financial year for their five areas – Buffalo Flats, Second Creek, Westbank, Woodbrook and Greenfields.
“We were told the financial year period – June 1 2021 to July 31 2022 – budget had been fully utilised for the year, therefore not much will happen. Ward dedicated budget funds were utilised for the Covid food parcel project. No struggling residents knew about any food parcels handed out in ward 1 9 ,” said Terol.
Newly-elected ward councillor Shandre Hoffman said: “I have entered my term in a ward plagued with many challenges, to a failing municipality. I discovered very quickly that the challenges in ward 19 are not unique to any of the other wards. The lack of funds, resources and manpower is often the excuse for all services not being delivered .”
Hoffman further said “The ANC-led municipality does not have the political will to drive issues of concern raised by residents through us as public representatives. The recent water crisis once again highlighted this shortcoming.”
“Every day we have complaints of roads being in a state of disrepair, the grass is overgrown, bush areas are not being controlled, street lights not working, vandalism to electrical substations and cable theft – to name a few.”
“I have been trying my very best to attend to all of these complaints and with some I achieved success. I understand and share in the frustration of the residents, after all they pay for these services but it is just not delivered .”
The municipality had not responded to questions at the time of publishing.
Buffalo View Road overgrown walkway and illegal dumpsite.
Photo: Supplied
