Frustrated residents state their case
City's failure to react frustrates Ward 2 residents
THE frustrations of not getting action – or even response – from the municipality about residents’ complaints came to the fore at a Ward 2 public meeting held in the civic centre auditorium on Thursday.
This raised further discussion on ‘what to do’, to legally demonstrate discontent about ignored issues.
Residents complained that officials do not return messages or that email boxes are full ‘for weeks’ and correspondence is unanswered.
One issue was the ongoing sewage problem in Veldenvlei, which not only causes health and odour problems for homes in Honeysuckle Street, but which flows directly into a wetland stream feeding Lake Mzingazi – the city’s source of drinking water.
‘The problem has been regularly reported the past five years, with no improvement.
‘They are treating the symptom, not the problem,’ said one angry resident.
Pump, pipeline and competency issues were named as the cause and fears were expressed that the problem will get worse as new developments add to the load.
Another ongoing item is the all-night ‘noise parties’ at the uMhlathuze Stadium.
Rob Cowan, who initiated a petition about the matter, argued that from the outset, the consultants who prepared the EIA warned that already-high ambient noise levels demanded that functions only be held during day-time hours.
‘This is now affecting property prices, as nobody wants to live in a suburb where you are constantly bombarded with loud music during the night,’ said Cowan.
‘All correspondence in this regard to the City, the District Council and Cogta has been ignored.
Cowan suggested the residents should get an interdict against the authorities, although it would be costly to fight the matter in court.
Another suggestion was to reject property valuations, and to approach the Public Protector to intervene.
Another bone of contention was that the city had not fulfilled its commitment to approve the SPCA as an essential service provider, as per a council resolution in January last year.
Representatives said the SPCA, which is located within Ward 2 and functions among others as the city pound, is owed over R1.5-million by the city.
Other issues brought to the fore at the public meeting included lack of addressing the deterioration of the R619 road at Brackenham, and failure to clear culverts, which will lead to storm water problems.
Good afternoon
I pearsonaly lived in the Green haven complex opposite the sport complex bu was forced to move away from the area deu to the lack of sleep caused by the ongoing noise I have phoned the SAPD several times but never got any feedback so I am sad to say but our lovely city isn’t the city it once was its a mear shadow of its former glory
Thank you
Renaldo
Ppl must keep this in mind when election’s come, and the idiots that complain about everything but doesn’t want to vote because it is a “waste of there time and there votes doesn’t mean anything”
…and the Municipal Manager say in the ZO Observer 21/4/14 “there is no scientific evidence that property values has been effected” ????…. Does he suggest a consultant of his choice should be hired to do a study because all the residents in the area complaining all the time are just making this up??? What does it take to get those officials employed to work for the people of this city, to listen and take them seriously or is the burning of tyres and blocking roads the only thing that is responded to?