RESIDENTS of the Stofland informal settlement in De Doorns have threatened to block the N1 between Worcester and Touws River if local and provincial authorities don’t provide basic services.
During a provincial government oversight visit to the area yesterday, angry residents demanded answers from members of the provincial legislature (MPLs).
Monica Snyers, who moved to the area 39 years ago, told MPLs that residents were “tired of politicians and their lies”. She said residents who had been in the area for decades remained on the housing waiting list, while “youth”, some as young as 18, were given new RDP houses.
“It’s a big mess and we’ve had enough. People are living without water and electricity. Seniors have to relieve themselves outside. Someone has to do an audit of the housing waiting list to find out exactly what is going on here.”
But the MPLs, who were set to go on a walkabout, left the area after 30 minutes on the advice of provincial government officials without addressing the community’s concerns.
Dorothy Nkosi, 65, said: “I’m never voting again. Our people are suffering, but it seems the DA government, both at the municipality and in the province, don’t care about us.”
ANC MPL Mcebisi Skwatsha said he was “disappointed” that the committee had been advised to leave the area before they could talk to the residents. “It seems like the DA-led administration is not keen to deal with the needs of the most deprived communities. People have serious concerns...”
Stofland ward councillor Mpumelelo Lubisi said: “I’m not heard in council. I take these people’s concerns to the officials and the mayor, but they don’t do anything. The housing waiting list is maintained by the provincial government. I have no say there.”
Breede River deputy mayor John Levendal said the new DA administration was aware of the problems in Stofland and was devising a plan. “There are a lot of issues here, but we have just taken over this municipality from the ANC in May. We are still holding meetings with officials and community leaders to establish exactly what is happening.”
In 2008 residents blocked the N1 for two days during a service delivery protest in the area.
The committee also visited the Thusong Centre in Worcester yesterday. The centres are hubs where people in rural areas can get information about government services and employment opportunities according to the provincial government website. Instead, the committee found a dilapidated building and a community furious about lack of services.
Zwelethemba resident Bongani Ntshingila said: “This centre is a disaster. It’s an embarrassment.”
Manager Mawethu Bikani said there was no budget and only two cleaners and a data capturer. “We are struggling.”
Ntsietso Sesiu, director of service delivery integration in the Local Government Department, said most of the province’s 26 Thusong centres were in poor wards and should be managed by the municipalities.
She said there was a plan for the centres to be self-sufficient, but it was not working.
“There is a big problem with departments saying these centres are unfunded mandates. We are engaging with municipalities to ensure the centres are covered in their budgets. We are aware of the challenges at this centre and have made proposals to the Treasury to have it refurbished.”
Levendal said: “This is the first time I hear about these problems here. I will look at this to see how we can assist.”
- IOL
During a provincial government oversight visit to the area yesterday, angry residents demanded answers from members of the provincial legislature (MPLs).
Monica Snyers, who moved to the area 39 years ago, told MPLs that residents were “tired of politicians and their lies”. She said residents who had been in the area for decades remained on the housing waiting list, while “youth”, some as young as 18, were given new RDP houses.
“It’s a big mess and we’ve had enough. People are living without water and electricity. Seniors have to relieve themselves outside. Someone has to do an audit of the housing waiting list to find out exactly what is going on here.”
But the MPLs, who were set to go on a walkabout, left the area after 30 minutes on the advice of provincial government officials without addressing the community’s concerns.
Dorothy Nkosi, 65, said: “I’m never voting again. Our people are suffering, but it seems the DA government, both at the municipality and in the province, don’t care about us.”
ANC MPL Mcebisi Skwatsha said he was “disappointed” that the committee had been advised to leave the area before they could talk to the residents. “It seems like the DA-led administration is not keen to deal with the needs of the most deprived communities. People have serious concerns...”
Stofland ward councillor Mpumelelo Lubisi said: “I’m not heard in council. I take these people’s concerns to the officials and the mayor, but they don’t do anything. The housing waiting list is maintained by the provincial government. I have no say there.”
Breede River deputy mayor John Levendal said the new DA administration was aware of the problems in Stofland and was devising a plan. “There are a lot of issues here, but we have just taken over this municipality from the ANC in May. We are still holding meetings with officials and community leaders to establish exactly what is happening.”
In 2008 residents blocked the N1 for two days during a service delivery protest in the area.
The committee also visited the Thusong Centre in Worcester yesterday. The centres are hubs where people in rural areas can get information about government services and employment opportunities according to the provincial government website. Instead, the committee found a dilapidated building and a community furious about lack of services.
Zwelethemba resident Bongani Ntshingila said: “This centre is a disaster. It’s an embarrassment.”
Manager Mawethu Bikani said there was no budget and only two cleaners and a data capturer. “We are struggling.”
Ntsietso Sesiu, director of service delivery integration in the Local Government Department, said most of the province’s 26 Thusong centres were in poor wards and should be managed by the municipalities.
She said there was a plan for the centres to be self-sufficient, but it was not working.
“There is a big problem with departments saying these centres are unfunded mandates. We are engaging with municipalities to ensure the centres are covered in their budgets. We are aware of the challenges at this centre and have made proposals to the Treasury to have it refurbished.”
Levendal said: “This is the first time I hear about these problems here. I will look at this to see how we can assist.”
- IOL
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