Residents spell out their grievances
● Housing, services, power failures on list of demands in KwaNobuhle
Houses in need of rectification, recreational centres for the youth, fixing electrical problems and basic services were some of the items that residents from KwaNobuhle put on their wish list to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.
They were speaking at an IDP meeting on Thursday night, at a packed Babs Madlakane Hall, addressed by mayor Mongameli Bobani, who said the officials’ job was to listen to the needs of residents.
Resident Simphiwe Madlavu said the budget was neither the new coalition’s nor that of the people.
Madlavu said this was former mayor Athol Trollip’s budget and they had fought multiple times over it.
He said there was a lot of crime in the area and no youth centres for children to explore their talents.
“There’s not a single capital project item in this budget.
“This budget doesn’t take us seriously.”
Another resident, Mthunzi Jack, said KwaNobuhle experienced a lot of power outages due to the transformer being overpowered.
“When it rains, electricity constantly switches off here and this is due to the transformer constantly blowing up.
“KwaNobuhle is growing and clearly it can’t handle the load, so please expand the power station,” Jack said.
Mfunda Fumbatha, from Ward 46, said many houses needed rectification in the area.
“We’ve gone to several mayors asking the same thing but it’s sad because each government that comes in does not address the needs of the people,” Fumbatha said.
Other issues included increased crime levels, illegal dumping sites and the need for flushing toilets in Ngunguluza.
Ward 45 resident Siyabonga Fila said people from his ward no longer wanted Simphiwe Plaatjies as their councillor.
Fila accused Plaatjies of not wanting development. “The councillor’s office is closed. People are not getting services.”
Bobani said the municipality was heading towards compiling the adjustments budget and what officials saw in the agenda had been budgeted for in the current financial year.
He said officials were trying to ascertain if residents still wanted what was listed or if they wanted to make changes.
“We want to do what you want, not what we want.
“We’ve noted the problem with the electricity.
“People can’t live in filthy houses, they deserve to live in decent houses like everyone else,” Bobani said.
Addressing the Plaatjies issue, Bobani said members of his mayoral committee would meet and discuss this on Friday and by next Wednesday would come up with a solution.