Ratepayers to take on city

AN UMBRELLA body of ratepayers and civic associations has been formed to fight the city on service delivery issues.

Ish Prahladh, co-ordinator of ethekwini Motherbody Ratepayers and Civic Associations, said the meeting last week at the David Landau Hall in Asherville was well attended.

“An interim committee was formed with a representative from each ratepayers or civic associations. As the mother body progresses, each elected person will give feedback to their communities,” said Prahladh.

He said a follow-up meeting had been scheduled for November 11.

“The plan is that the interim body will start to work with the mayor’s office and heads of departments to make sure that the issues are addressed immediately and not passed on and given excuses that there is no money. We need to know where our money is going. Let’s fight with one voice so we can be heard,” said Prahladh.

Tashya Giyapersad, vice chairperson of the Tongaat Civic Association and the La Mercy Ratepayers and Civic Association, said the formation of one organisation was prompted because of the persistent lack of service delivery in ethekwini.

“Sewerage, failing infrastructure, poor lighting, lack of infrastructure at beaches and Durban Solid Waste issues are some of the problems. We will be meeting with relevant municipal stakeholders. If the meeting is declined we will go to court,” said Giyapersad.

Rajah Krishnasamy, PRO of the Springfield Civic Ratepayers Association, said the community had lost confidence in the municipality.

“We lack confidence on the expenditure, tender process and them doing the right thing. We don’t know where funds are being spent. We have to have one voice to take back our city. Every area is going through what others are going through. The mayor, deputy mayor, premier and heads of departments have failed us. We are frustrated,” said Krishnasamy.

He said during the flood disaster in April they saw the lack of confidence in them to perform. “We want to be a voice to reckon with,” he said.