M’well residents highlight priorities

THE eradication of bucket toilets and electrification of houses were just a couple of the priorities for Motherwell residents who spoke during a community dialogue last night.

More than 250 residents attended the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting at the Raymond Mhlaba Sports Centre.

Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral committee member for sport, recreation, arts and culture Siyasanga Sijadu said they were there for the second round of the IDP participation meetings.

“We urge you to make a choice [of priorities] from the previous list of many items submitted to the municipality,” Sijadu said.

The list of priorities would then be handed over to mayor Athol Trollip for his attention.

Safety and security portfolio head, councillor John Best, said this was a follow-up engagement with residents and he urged them to present their immediate priorities to enable the municipality to act on these.

“We know that the rand is on a decline and everything is getting more expensive,” Best said.

“If you qualify for the assistance to the poor, if you stay in a house [worth] less than R100 000, you must go to the municipality and apply for the assistance, please. We do not want you to suffer.

“That is the message we are giving you as government,” he said.

During the meeting, Best also indicated the increases in service tariffs.

Electricity will go up by 1.8%; water, sanitation and refuse collection will increase by 9%, and general rates will also rise by 9%.

He said Eskom had put up its tariffs and the municipality had no choice but to increase the prices.