Tackling ward 28’s diverse challenges
Q Have you established a ward committee yet and where can you and the ward committee be reached?
AWe have elected a ward committee that functions unofficially. We have to continue with service delivery issues despite the delaying of the formal establishment of a ward committee by BCMM.
BCMM indicated that the advertisement for comments will be done this week and the period for comments and objections must pass before the ward committee members will be called for induction.
The official indicated the ward committee will be able to work officially in June.
What are some of the major issues you’ve handled in your time as ward councillor?
The major issues I’ve handled are mainly around the lack of service delivery. Our water supply is still erratic in some areas.
The water reticulation system is old and needs urgent upgrading. We experience pipe bursts often in Beacon Bay.
I must, however, commend the officials working with the water interruptions for trying their best, often after-hours, with a limited budget.
The electrical infrastructure also needs urgent upgrading. The electricity gets interrupted often, apart from load-shedding.
This leads to sewage that overflows into the various water courses, leading to pollution.
The pump stations have no preservation tanks to store the overflow of sewage when the pumps are down due to electrical failure.
The road infrastructure is totally neglected, in some streets there are up to 50 potholes in 250m; that is one pothole every 5m. A sweet short-term victory will be the repairing and maintaining of the roads. Another aspect that will also be a small victory if it can be done is regular grass cutting and bush clearing. Our streets verges and parks are totally overgrown and unusable by residents.
Have you become aware of other challenges in your ward, or seen any change?
The concerns are still there and these will still remain unless the BCMM council budget properly for infrastructure redevelopment. There are shortterm solutions, but that includes residents starting to take care of their immediate environment themselves. Take care of your sidewalk in front of your house and assist in clean-up initiatives.
There are daily new
challenges, especially around crime, copper theft, illegal dumping and the squatting of vagrants.
I was also not fully aware of how badly the infrastructure is neglected, though I was aware of its poor state.
Ward 28 is a big ward with diverse concerns. What are some of the main challenges the area has in common?
It is a diverse ward, especially with the inclusion of the Phase 2 RDP houses in Mzamomhle.
This area has totally different and more pressing needs for supplying of basic services that are totally lacking. Houses were given to beneficiaries just before the election without the completion of basic services.
The sewerage system is dysfunctional, there is no stormwater drainage, no electricity and only occasionally water. This is a serious issue that needs urgent intervention.
What are you earnestly hoping to address during the remainder of your term?
If I can have the streets in Beacon Bay properly resurfaced, verges maintained and the illegal dumping stopped by having a decent, acceptable garden waste transfer station developed in an area that is acceptable to the residents, it will be a victory for me.
The other aspect is to see Mzamomhle has proper services.
I have also the dream to see the Quenera Estuary be fully developed in a properly managed nature reserve that involves the communities in the management process. That includes the mouth area that is totally dilapidated.
What would you say is the most important thing to keep in mind as you go about your daily responsibilities?
My availability to attend to service delivery queries from residents and solve the queries.
How do you make yourself accountable to residents?
I always try to be available and to answer the community on any service delivery issue. I also have an open door policy that residents are welcome to contact me at any time.
I give feedback by having regular contact with residents, either with public meetings, WhatsApp groups or Facebook and other social media.
I have a meeting once a month with the Ratepayers Association and my ward committee, as well as the local Community Policing Forum. I also have interaction with other interest groups such as the Quenera River management group.