As the Laudium Sun closes for the yearend festive season, we reflect on the year that has passed, for residents living in Ward 61 (Laudium, Erasmia, Itireleng, Claudius and Gerhardsville). It has certainly not been an easy time.
While in many of the previous years, the most challenging issue was crime, this year, we are confident to say that the challenge that residents faced most was the poor service delivery at both Council and Provincial level.
It is evident that service delivery is going to be the key issue, even during the next year, and that the ANC/ActionSA led Tshwane Council and the ANC led Gauteng Province are unable to attend to the needs of the communities. From water disruptions, to electricity outages, to cuts in subsidies for NGOs, to crisis in schools and hospitals, residents have faced crisis after crisis this past year.
Councillor’s not open and honest…
What is worrying, is that our local Councillors have not been open and honest with the residents of Ward 61. Social media posts are flooded daily with how hardworking the Councillors are and photos are often posted of Councillors with politicians or council workers… at the reservoir, the scene at a leaking pipe or at the electricity substation. Whilst it is okay for information sake to inform the community that electricity and water has been restored (for the 100th time), there is certainly no reason to celebrate when water and electricity keeps being cut (due to the incompetence of politicians or officials) and then gets reconnected after a few days. The days of saying thank you ‘my baas’ are certainly over. Basic services, such as clean water and electricity are the right of every resident. There is certainly no reason to clap hands when water or electricity resumes after frustrating days of cuts. It seems that politicians want to brainwash residents into thinking that politicians are now mini Gods and each time that services are resumed, we should be thankful to these politicians. The Laudium Sun joins many of our readers in saying no, not anymore. Politicians are our servants and they are well paid to serve the people. We will not bow down to them and they are certainly not doing us any favor in serving the community, as the door is open for them to leave at anytime.
fooling who?
One-sided responses
What is worrying is that our local politicians are quick to post so called successes on social media, when in fact these successes, such as water or electricity being resumed, should have not been cut in the first place. What the politicians are not telling us, are the many complaints that residents have lodged over time, but which have still not been attended to by the Tshwane Council or the Gauteng Government. Why is it that to this date, none of our 3 Councillors have given reports on outstanding matters concerning the community. Quick thinking some of them would be…
1) Many streetlights in Laudium are still not working, despite posts to the contrary.
2) Weeks of water leaks still not repaired despite posts to the contrary.
3) Problems with security and maintenance at the Laudium Cemetery, reservoir still a problem.
4) Nyaopes freely walking the area, with the Council and Social Department not doing enough to sort this problem out.
5) Posts that Tshwane Metro Police would take stern action against illegal businesses and buildings still not attended to.
6) The spiraling of shacks being erected around Laudium and Erasmia, mostly by illegal foreigners, continues with both the Council and the Gauteng Government seemingly turning a blind eye.
7) Complaints of open drains and thick grass on street sides are still not attended to, with residents being forced to take action to clean up the place, many a time.
8) A post was sent out that members of the Gauteng Premier’s team on October 1 met with the local Councillor and the CPF to finalize CCTV camera locations, which according to the post, was to commence in October and be completed end of November. There are no signs that the work has even started, yet the relevant Councillor has not posted any update on this matter.
installed. Has the community once more been hoodwinked by the politicians?
The Laudium Sun says that it is time our Councillors stop acting for the gallery and it is time to roll up their sleeves and do some work and stop talking about talks.
Councillors are now proudly relying on the community and businesses to support projects that are meant to be funded by the Council or Province. It is unacceptable that residents must fund such projects, while money, by the millions, is being wasted, if not stolen, by Government Departments.
The Laudium Sun has a list of many, many more complaints which residents have logged, but which have still not been attended to, yet these complaints that the Councillors are aware of, have not been
posted on social media by them as matters still to be attended to.