Residents meet to share service delivery anger

A motley crowd of Mlungisi residents gathered at the Mlungisi Stadium on Wednesday to vent their shared frustrations over service delivery in the area.

The meeting, which was held under the theme “mayibuye iKomani ” (bring back Komani), was called by the civic organisation Komani Concerned Residents.

Residents shared complaints about deteriorating service delivery in the area, including power outages, maintenance of roads, the collapsing sewer system and, more pertinently, access to land.

“We came to remind people of the problems they had which are still not solved. Before moving forward to engage with the municipalities we needed a fresh mandate from the community,” said Zwayi Ngondo of the Komani Concerned Residents.

Ngondo said there were many problems in Mlungisi which the municipality had failed to solve.

“There is an area in Mlungisi which is now in its eighth day without power, yet no councillor has taken the initiative to assist those families. We have landless people here. Scanlen Street is occupied by foreign nationals, yet to us that is a heritage site. The municipality is aware (of these problems) but nothing is done, instead they are eating money,” said Ngondo.

Vuyani Mbangi, also of the Komani Concerned Residents, said the interdicts served by Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) on individuals involved in the recent land grabs was proof the municipality was reserving vacant land for foreign nationals.

In response to queries sent to EMLM about residents ’ concerns raised at the meeting, a statement was sent to The Rep.

“The council of Enoch Mgijima is putting an end to invasion of vacant land and sites in its towns.

“Thus far, a huge number of foreign nationals have been found in possession of fake lease agreements, [and] fake letters. This endeavour is a matter of ensuring that the rightful custodians of hawker stands occupy them.

“An internal investigation to determine if there is any form of corruption or fraud by municipal officials and councillors in allocating sites will ensue.”

It was resolved the Komani Concerned Residents committee would hold meetings with different constituencies in Mlungisi.