Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato was greeted with smiling faces for some part and indifference from most as he went walk-about in Du Noon on Monday.
Plato's office had organised the event to listen to the "service delivery need" of a community which had often expressed its frustrations at poor living conditions through violent protests, blocking access to the busy Potsdam Road next to it.
Walking through waterlogged streets, Plato saw first-hand what some of Du Noon's residents had been complaining to him about.
Officials had to tread carefully, as Plato inspected several rows of toilets as private contractors emptied green rubbish containers.
Standing in leaking water, he asked residents whether they had complained to the city's relevant department and when they confirmed that they had, he made a promise that it would soon be fixed.
Peering at several illegal electricity connections, he joked that city would not be cutting them off as "there might be another riot".
Plato said: "Its not the city's problem, its Eskom's problem, they'll soon have to sort it out."
Khaya Mbunyuza, a resident, said he was happy Plato had come to Du Noon and that it might spur movement on development in the area.
"We've been made promises for years. People have been told that their problems can't be solved because they live in the wrong places - like Du Noon," said Mbunyuza.
Seated with some of the executive directors and senior officials, Plato had to answer questions from an angry community about the high crime rate in the area, poor waste management and lack of housing.
He said there were underlying issues that affected service delivery and that the city would not allow it to continue.
About complaints that the area did not have a multipurpose centre or a library, Plato asked for patience as these would take some time due to statutory requirements.
Residents also complained about Du Noon's sewerage system often being blocked.
Plato said some of the problems in the community stemmed from overcrowding and that a permanent solution would be to "de-densify" the area.
The meeting was told that some of shacks were built by people who had already received housing subsidies in other areas, but had moved to Du Noon for job opportunities.
- Cape Times
Plato's office had organised the event to listen to the "service delivery need" of a community which had often expressed its frustrations at poor living conditions through violent protests, blocking access to the busy Potsdam Road next to it.
Walking through waterlogged streets, Plato saw first-hand what some of Du Noon's residents had been complaining to him about.
Officials had to tread carefully, as Plato inspected several rows of toilets as private contractors emptied green rubbish containers.
Standing in leaking water, he asked residents whether they had complained to the city's relevant department and when they confirmed that they had, he made a promise that it would soon be fixed.
Peering at several illegal electricity connections, he joked that city would not be cutting them off as "there might be another riot".
Plato said: "Its not the city's problem, its Eskom's problem, they'll soon have to sort it out."
Khaya Mbunyuza, a resident, said he was happy Plato had come to Du Noon and that it might spur movement on development in the area.
"We've been made promises for years. People have been told that their problems can't be solved because they live in the wrong places - like Du Noon," said Mbunyuza.
Seated with some of the executive directors and senior officials, Plato had to answer questions from an angry community about the high crime rate in the area, poor waste management and lack of housing.
He said there were underlying issues that affected service delivery and that the city would not allow it to continue.
About complaints that the area did not have a multipurpose centre or a library, Plato asked for patience as these would take some time due to statutory requirements.
Residents also complained about Du Noon's sewerage system often being blocked.
Plato said some of the problems in the community stemmed from overcrowding and that a permanent solution would be to "de-densify" the area.
The meeting was told that some of shacks were built by people who had already received housing subsidies in other areas, but had moved to Du Noon for job opportunities.
- Cape Times
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