Ongoing concerns about Kwa Thema’s state of delivery, DP/ Budget, Adjustment, and township economy drew a crowd to Sunday’s community meeting, 13 March 2022 at Kwa Thema community Hall. An estimated number of 500 people attended the public meeting.
ANC caucus Whip Councillor Jongizizwe Dlabathi, convener of Kwa Thema councillor Dora’s Mlambo, department of Finance official Reggie, and Ward Councillors of Senior Thema Zone (Kwa Thema), attended the meeting.
In his opening remarks, the caucus Whip councillor thanked councillors, stakeholders, and community members for showing up. He continued to encourage community members to attend such meetings, to make their contribution towards the development of their respective wards of the entire town.
“These meetings also provide opportunities for communities to interact with municipal officials and councillors.” said Dlabathi.
Dlabathi tabled the progress report and the community members regarding the raised concerns from their last meeting in September 2021. He indicated that the executives were informed of the issues raised including the shortage of water crisis, and the need for provision of police stations. He stated that even though they did not receive a written report, SAPS and the Department of public works found vacant land to build police stations.
“We want a report in writing, to have hope that something will happen,” he added.
Regarding debt write-off, Dlabathi reassured the community members that with his team, they will make sure that they push the writing off of debts up to 100%, but they now want to focus on fighting for a 75% write off.
“But we promise that we not going for anything under 75% and we will fight until we reach 100%, we need to strategise because starting from requesting a 100% might come with challenges due to lots of regulations in the price,” said Dlabathi.
In response to complaints about electricity cuts and high water bills, Jongizizwe gave the community members a method on how to avoid being overcharged, which is to take a picture of
their meter readings twice a month, first and last days of every month and send them to WhatsApp number 0617874998.
He assured them that the executives are very much aware of the electricity shortage, however, they didn’t respond to them as yet, but as councillors, they will push and make sure that cutting off electricity is the last resort.
“We noticed that there is only one working transformer and since we haven’t got any concrete response, people should expect a cold winter,”
“All we ask for the member of the community, is to work and walk with us, show that we are all affected, we promise to push until we achieve,” concluded Dlabathi.
By Legale Rose Lekheimane
