Residents of Ga-Rankuwa in the north of Pretoria expressed deep frustration over ongoing service delivery issues during a community imbizo with Tshwane mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya on November 9.
At the imbizo, meant as a platform for residents to directly engage with metro officials, community members voiced their concerns over the lack of service delivery in the area.
The mayor, alongside members of the Tshwane metro, convened the imbizo to address local concerns and provide an update on development plans.
However, many residents used the platform to register growing discontent over unreliable water supply, irregular waste collection, power outages, and deteriorating road infrastructure, all of which they say have worsened over time.
One of the primary grievances raised by the Ga-Rankuwa community was that the metro should write off their water debt.
Resident Masechaba Nkuna said the metro managed to write off debt for Hammanskraal, so it must do the same for Ga-Rankuwa.
“The metro must prioritise repairing or replacing the ageing water infrastructure and provide a sustainable solution,” said Nkuna.
The deteriorating state of roads in Ga-Rankuwa was another key point of frustration.
Executive Mayor Cllr Nasiphi Moya after an engagement with the community of Ga-Rankuwa during an Imbizo. The mayor outlined the city’s priorities and the community raised their concerns about matters related to service delivery.#ReASpana #TshwaneAtWork pic.twitter.com/fRL4qqBbSH
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) November 10, 2024
Many streets are riddled with potholes, making it difficult for vehicles and pedestrians to navigate them safely.
Some residents expressed anger over the lack of maintenance, claiming that promises to repair the roads have not been fulfilled.
“We have been complaining about these potholes for years. It feels like we’ve been forgotten.”
Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said most of the concerns raised during the imbizo were within the ambit of the metro and a budget will be appropriated during adjustment, while other matters are intergovernmental (IGR) and will be channelled through the IGR.
Bokaba said the concerns will be addressed through the offices of relevant MMCs.
“Most of the issues which fall within the purview of the city are not new, they will simply be accelerated and prioritised.
For instance, one of the issues raised was that the city should write-off debt as the billing thereof was based on estimations and not actuals,” he said.
He said the view of the metro is that while the debt write-off is being considered, residents should pay their current account.
“You can’t continue to consume without paying because you disagree with historical billing.”
He said the metro was resurfacing roads in three wards in the area this financial year and the other matters will be addressed.
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