Report problems to your councillor
Bay infrastructure deteriorating
AS a ratepayer, city resident and ward councillor, I equally share the frustration expressed in C Shaw’s letter (“Councillors don’t see Bay deteriorating”, September 6).
As the ward councillor for the area in which the writer resides, I feel compelled to respond to the various issues raised.
The problem of livestock in the metro is largely due to the very clever ideas contained in the ruling party’s decision to have an “urban farming” policy which seeks to encourage such activity without consideration given to the inconvenience that uncontrolled stock might create for motorists and residents. It is something which I and my DA colleagues raise every time this is discussed at our economic development portfolio committee meetings (when the ANC choose to attend).
Should livestock be encountered, I would recommend immediately reporting the complaint to the service delivery hotline on 0800-20 5050 toll free or to contact your ward councillor.
The other issues raised in the letter refer to potholes which can’t be seen at night because of the streetlights not working. I am unaware of these as the road to the airport was recently resurfaced from Forest Hill Drive to the airport entrance.
The two significant potholes that developed due to the recent heavy rains have both been repaired. Faulty streetlights and potholes are reported virtually daily to the metro as and when we become aware of them.
There may well be some we do not know about however and if so, I encourage the writer to let us know so they can be repaired.
The algae problem at the Kings Beach lake is an obvious cause for concern to me as one of the key drivers of this refurbishment. The cause of the algae bloom is a sewer leak that caused an overflow into the water body after the recent rains, causing the contamination.
I have been interacting daily with the engineers, the MBDA and various departments concerned to try to remedy this as quickly as possible. Unfortunately it is not as easy as going to buy a few drums of HTH and doing a quick shock treatment as there are already fish in the lake.
Secondly, proper supply chain procurement procedures have to be followed, which also unavoidably delayed the intervention to some extent. The leaking sewer has already been repaired.
To address the algae problem, it has been decided to embark on a course of microbial treatment and the first stock of product has been delivered on site. The three month initial treatment protocol will be followed by a monthly maintenance dose.
It is hoped this will resolve the water quality problem in the lake. If this does not work, a second intervention protocol is already under consideration.
I and many of my ward councillor colleagues regularly travel our wards specifically for the purposes of assessing the conditions and to report any problems encountered to the relevant officials. I have a regular ward visit programme where I take officials with me to investigate on a similar basis.
Unfortunately in each ward we are only one and as such also rely on our communities to assist by helping to be additional pairs of eyes and ears, and to interact with us when they see anything wrong.
I would encourage the writer and all residents to make contact with their local ward councillors, who I can assure do more than simply travel to City Hall and back. The contact details for Ward 2 are (041) 585-0515 or dbiddulph@mandelametro.gov.za
I can assure the writer that we do whatever we can with the little that we have to try to maintain a reasonable standard within our wards. A visit to many of the township areas to see the state of affairs there will attest to the efforts of all of our ward councillors.
Bear in mind too that the cash crisis facing the city continues to put increasing pressure on our individual ward budgets.