Service delivery outreach to give a voice to residents

“The suits are off now ... we will start working.”

That was the word from Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Nqaba Bhanga at the launch of a metro-wide mayoral service delivery outreach programme yesterday.

Bhanga, who was clad in a worksuit, said the programme was aimed at engaging directly with residents to find out their challenges and “take services to the people”.

This is not the first time a sitting mayor has embarked on a campaign to listen to residents’ complaints as Danny Jordaan had a similar campaign during his tenure at City Hall.

Bhanga said: “Since the coalition of good governance took over the government of the metro in December 2020, great strides have already been made in improving service delivery and ensuring financial sustainability.”

However, the high court in Gqeberha nullified Bhanga’s election in December and he was then legally elected at the end of January.

Asked how the programme would be rolled out, Bhanga said a comprehensive report would be compiled of all 60 wards to understand their needs.

He said he would focus on safety and security and water services.

“It will be a diverse programme that responds to law and order ... we want to make sure we deal with issues that relate to water — the challenges the city is facing in response to water leaks, educating people with the water restricters we will introduce.

“On other days, we will be launching a road resurfacing programme to deal with development and maintenance of roads.

“[This] is a broader programme and is issue-based,” he said.

Bhanga said at the end of the 60-day ward visits the municipality would give feedback on what plans they would implement to improve how the city was governed, based on what they had learnt from residents.

“This coalition of good governance puts residents’ wellbeing first and will work tirelessly to ensure they get the services they pay for and deserve.

“No longer will their voices be ignored,” he said.