ADENDORP NEWS - Adendorp residents are up in arms at the perceived lack of action from the municipality, and their anger came to a head at a community meeting last week with those in attendance declaring a vote of no confidence in ward councillor Rudy Jacobs.
For over a year, residents have been complaining about the poor water supply, which despite many promises from the municipality, has not been resolved.
Another area of dissatisfaction has been the trucks using Adendorp's roads as a short cut to the landfill site, particularly since the waste transfer station has been closed. Complaints include the litter blowing off the trucks, and although assurances were received that the rubbish on the trucks would be covered with nets, this has not been enforced.
The zoning of the area is also a bone of contention. According to residents, it has always been zoned as agricultural, which resulted in lower rates. However, during valuation assessments this year, the town was rated as a residential area, which has resulted in increases in rates.
The establishment of the Karan Beef holding area in the town was contested by many residents, as the only tarred road in the town at the time was not designed for the large volume of heavy trucks. According to Hennie Pienaar, a member of the non-political Adendorp Residents' Group, in this case, the municipality used the fact that the area is zoned as agricultural to justify the permission given.
Other issues included on the agenda drawn up by Jacobs for the meeting were the Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan, water issues, refuse removal, the ward committee vacancy, the establishment of a neighbourhood watch, and CWP matters.
To facilitate this discussion, Jacobs had asked various officials to attend. However, not one attended, and due to unforeseen circumstances, Jacobs himself was late. The meeting started 30 minutes after the scheduled time.
This annoyed several of the residents. A frustrated Pienaar proposed the vote of no confidence in Jacobs, which was seconded by several people. According to Jacobs, Pienaar was disruptive and rude and demanded that Jacobs leave.
"Some of the residents on the floor asked that he give me a chance to speak, however, he didn't want to, and insisted that I leave immediately," said Jacobs.
"I feel degraded at the way I was treated, after my efforts to give regular feedback to my constituency," said Jacobs. "I know they are frustrated, but so are the councillors, as bad service delivery happens in all our wards. But we also have to treat each other with respect, as we are all human beings."
Representatives of the Adendorp community will be meeting with the municipal manager on Monday morning, and then with the leader of the DA caucus, Danie Bezuidenhout, and MP Samantha Graham-Mare, to try to find a way forward.
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