Editor: One would swear that our politicians each get to read a management handbook only after they are elected and then proceed to tell us dumb citizens just how to manage a city. For the info of ALL politicians – if you do not get on the ‘shop floor’ and inspect and touch the flesh you will NEVER be able to deliver service or manage properly!
An infrastructure problem that has been known for more than ten years, causing streets in Kwanobuhle to become waterlogged, highlights how communities are left in limbo due to long outstanding service delivery concerns.
Flanked by ward councillors and municipal officials, Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk, expressed his apprehension that these long outstanding faults were not prioritized by previous administrations while the living conditions of residents are adversely affected.
“You are not asking for much. It is your right to demand services and it is our responsibility as your local government institution to ensure that your needs are met.
“I am now here and will take the responsibility to find solutions for you. The officials with me from Roads and Transport, Water and Sanitation as well as Electricity and Energy will now note the specific issues and start a process to fix it.
“My job is to do oversight. I will therefore demand regular feedback from them and return in August to see what progress was made here and we will determine then, what needs to be done to resolve the issue completely.
“Since I was elected as Executive Mayor on the 26th of May, I had weekly walkabouts and engaged directly with protesting communities, to inculcate a culture of accountability.
“In most of these cases, communities would not have gone to the streets and destroyed infrastructure, if they were kept abreast of how their problems will be solved.
“They would happily await progress if the political will was there coupled with the necessary actions to bring change.
“I took a firm decision not to blame previous Executive Mayor’s for the long outstanding issues, as our coalition of local unity is going full steam ahead to bring change where others faltered,” Mayor Van Niekerk said.
Some of the Mayoral Walkabouts took place in Colchester, Kwanobuhle, Rosedale, Mountain View, Bloemendal, Salt Lake, Missionvale, New Brighton and Motherwell.
NMB Communications
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