Lerato Mailoane
The Gauteng Provincial Government has stepped up in support of the Emfuleni Local Municipality in resolving services delivery challenges.
On Sunday, 19 May 2024, Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi visited the municipality to have a “firsthand account” on issues plaguing the community.
The Premier was joined by the Executive Mayors of the Emfuleni Local Municipality, Sipho Radebe and Lesedi Local Municipality, Lerato Maloka during a Ntirhisano service delivery outreach programme where he met with residents at Sonland Park Primary School in Vereeniging.
During the meeting, residents raised countless service delivery challenges ranging from illegal dumping, loadshedding, waste removal, water and sanitation, rehabilitation of roads and mining among others.
In response, Premier Lesufi said most issues raised would be resolved by the municipality with provincial government’s support.
Premier Lesufi made the commitment to following up on four critical areas.
“There are four issues I want to work on, the first one is roads, we were supposed to fix 40 roads, we are increasing that in the next financial year with another 40 roads which means all other areas of Gauteng for two years are not going to be fixed because 80 roads were in the worst state must be fixed first.”
Lesufi said the issue illegal dumping, waste removal and environmental problems that are associated with that is no laughing matter and urged the municipality to go back to the negotiation table with unions as the issue has reached an untenable point as it affects the health of residents,
“We have the department of environment as the mayor has indicated, we have requested that we continue to give services on behalf of the municipality, but the labour unions and workers have been raising serious problems which means we must go back to the negotiation table,” he added.
On electricity, he said the problem was widespread with all communities wanting to be first in line to get their electricity fixed,
“We have to expand the capacity of our technicians so that they can move with the necessary speed. We have made a commitment to fix 522 transformers across the province and so far we have fixed 470, we are left with 75 or so and some of these transformers earmarked to be fixed are in this area.
In addition, he said he would also look into addressing the water and sewer issues affecting the area.
SOURCED FROM GPG WEBSITE.
