MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Apart from the availability of land for informal settlements, the community representatives of especially Wards 3 and 11 in Asla Park, raised a number of other concerns with the executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal and the municipal executive management during a marathon meeting on Tuesday.
Taxi rank
One of the major issues of contention was the taxi rank that was erected in Crotz Street in Asla Park.
The community representatives averred that the community of Asla Park did not want the rank to be situated where it is, and further stated that it has become a crime hot spot and concern for the surrounding residents.
Community leader Mr Skoen argued that the rank constitutes wasteful expenditure and insisted that the municipal manager further investigate the process preceding the building of the facility. "Was there any corruption uncovered by your initial investigation?" he asked the municipal manager.
When explained that the taxi rank was duly registered and approved by the then ward committee for ward 11 in 2012/2013, the community representatives insisted that this ward committee did not represent the people of Asla Park.
Enemy of the people
"That rank has become an enemy of the people," Mr Skoen insisted. He called on the municipal manager to urgently conduct a further investigation into the taxi rank.
Alderman Levendal said the planned clinic and bee hives that will be developed in close proximity to the taxi rank will add to the need for a safe area where commuters may access transport. He asked the community representatives to come with proposals on the future use of the facilities. The mayor also alluded to the measures being taken to improve community safety at the rank.
Integrated Development Plan
The Asla Park community is invited to IDP meetings on 21 August in the Asla Park Community Hall, and on 28 August in the African Gospel Church Hall.
Load shedding at formal houses
The community was given the assurance that the municipality does not implement load shedding. The sporadic electricity interruptions experienced by residents in formal houses bordering informal settlements are mainly caused by illegal connections by people in the nearby informal settlements.
"These illegal connections cause short circuit faults and overload conditions resulting in the electricity interruptions," the director of technical services, Dick Naidoo explained.
Households are invited to visit the municipal offices or the ONTEC office to register and verify their contact details and cellular phone number. Households that do not receive their free electricity units upfront through their cellular phones will receive the free units with the first electricity purchase of the month.
Free municipal services for the poor
The municipal manager, Adv Thys Giliomee explained that Mossel Bay is at the forefront of caring for the poorest of the poor of the community.
"However, the municipality has to buy the water and electricity also, we cannot provide services for free, the municipality will go bankrupt. Mossel Bay has a progressive indigent policy and provides subsidised services for poor households."
Mayor Levendal alluded to the special policy for indigent people with special needs or extraordinary circumstances. "It is important that the leadership explain the existing policies to the people who may benefit from it."
Other concerns
Several other concerns and problems were raised with the municipality, such as a need for local economic development to reduce unemployment in the area; the need to involve and support the taxi industry; the need for support of local small businesses, and the dire need to reduce drug dependence and drug peddling in the area.
It was agreed that a meeting will be held on 30 September where these issues may be deliberated further. The venue and time of the meeting will be communicated in due time.
Read a related article: Mayor: "We need to engage more"
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