Irate ratepayers hand over demands to municipality

THE Lady Frere Ratepayers Association brought Cacadu, the town formerly known as Lady Frere, to a standstill yesterday when they marched to the Emalahleni municipality’s offices.

There they handed over a memorandum to municipal manager Sitembele Vatala, chief whip Nolitha Lali and council speaker Dumisa Kalolo.

The ratepayers association gave the municipality 14 days to respond to a list of grievances, which included the high rate of unemployment within the area, lack of service delivery and the need to rename streets.

Association member Noyisa Qaba called for the verification of addresses in applications for municipal vacancies and tenders so that business was given to local people.

Also, “there must be an evaluation of houses done to see the condition of the houses. We have noticed discrepancies in the value of the houses and businesses. This also affects the rates paid by the residents”, he said.

Qaba said residents also wanted to be provided with municipal equipment such as the TLB, graders and water carts, when needed.

“The town is filthy. We want the municipality to provide dustbins and black refuse bags [and] take care of the stormwater which is damaging the town’s streets, opening furrows,” he said.

He said there were no public toilets in the rural town and there was an urgent need to revive municipal pounds for stray animals.

Residents also called for the post office to be reopened, to receive their post and money. “We demand for the post office to be reopened as people travel all the way from Cacadu to Komani just to get their money,” Qaba said.

Residents also wanted streets to be renamed after the veterans and heroes who contributed in the development of Cacadu.

“These people were not included in the names of the streets which were wrongly spelled. Ratepayers must be included in their naming of the streets and be part of council,” Qaba said.

The paving in town, fencing of the graveyard and projects that were not completed due to unqualified service providers also needed to be looked at, Qaba said.

“There must be a political will to address all issues facing the municipality and prioritising local economic development,” he said.

Kalolo apologised on behalf of mayor Nomveliso Nyukwana, who could not be present to receive the memorandum.

“We will take the memorandum and give it to her and we will respond within 14 days,” he said. —