MOSSEL BAY NEWS - KwaNonqaba residents who were so concerned about a number of issues that they took to the streets on 24 July and marched to the municipal buildings to hand over their list of grievances to municipal councillors, at the time warned the local authority that they would make "this town ungovernable" should they receive "any negative response".
The Executive Mayor Alderlady Marie Ferreira and the Municipal Manager, Dr Michele Gratz, on Thursday, 6 August met with a representative of the concerned residents, Mr Thembalethu Faku, as agreed to hand over the municipality's comprehensive feedback on the 16 issues the community had raised in their memorandum of grievances.
The marchers raised 16 issues in total, most of which concerned housing and service delivery, such as free electricity, but also addressed problems with Debtpack and insisted on a Fire and Rescue substation in KwaNonqaba.
Other issues included in-house toilets for the elderly and disabled people who now have to use outside facilities, free electricity without having to pay a cent towards receiving it, the termination of plans to relocate the people of Powertown to Sonskynvallei and issues with the Gap housing being planned on a site adjacent to Louis Fourie Road.
"It is unfortunate that vandalism is again the reason for great discomfort amongst our community members and limiting the possibilities of additional projects being initiated," the municipality said in response to the grievances.
"The municipality, with assistance from the National Department of Human Settlements, is developing a clear upgrading programme for all 18 informal areas. The first phase of the planning is completed and the project report was adopted by Council in February 2015.
The second phase will be detailed planning and the National Department has indicated that as soon as they have completed the relevant procurement processes, this phase will commence. The upgrading of informal settlements is also part of the housing pipeline and plan adopted by Council at the end of April 2015. Backyard dwellers are part of the housing plan."
On the concerns raised about Debtpack, the municipality said their feedback indicates that the public are generally happy with the level of service and attitude received from Debtpack.
"Specific instances of Debtpack staff not providing the necessary assistance to clients should be brought to the attention of the Chief Financial Officer so that he can follow-up each specific case," the municipality urged.
According to the feedback it would cost the consumers more if the municipality were to render this service itself. To cancel the existing contract with Debtpack would also cost the town millions which would have to be recovered from the defaulting consumers and would increase the cost of disconnections/reconnections and other legal fees.
The municipality insists that housing allocation is always done in line with the respective national policies per project and that preference is always given to the qualifying elderly beneficiaries. When necessary houses are adapted to suit the specific needs in as much as the subsidy amount allows.
In Power Town various investigations and studies have indicated the non-suitability of that area for township development.
A housing project in Power Town is not possible as the area is located in a flood plain and no other municipal land in the area is available to relocate residents to.
Vandalism has been the reason for several houses standing empty at Drie Susters and a survey of the extent of damages was done and a funding application was lodged to the Department of Human Settlements. Money was approved in June 2015 and processes are being put in place to have the houses repaired.
On the issue of the middle income houses, the municipality insists that the identified site is sufficiently drained for construction purposes and no problems relating to storm water should be experienced considering the norms and standards which have to be conformed with. The necessary public participation processes were duly followed.
"Council has already halved the market price and is of the opinion that it is a fair price for erven of that size and location in order to promote middle income housing in Mossel Bay.
The municipality is investigating the possibility to move the fire station to a new site. The site being considered is close to the crossing giving access to the Pinnacle Point area. There are no suitable sites in KwaNonqaba. The feedback also states that the costs involved to build and man a sub-station are very high and; "it is not possible to accede to this request at this point in time."
The feedback concludes with the local authority inviting residents to consult with either their ward Councillor or the responsible official to clarify service delivery issues, or to send an SMS to 44802.
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