GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — According to residents of Santaville in Graaff-Reinet, refuse removal in this neighbourhood leaves a lot to be desired.
On Saturday, 10 March, the community members took matters into their own hands after numerous complaints about the illegal dumping next to the Sonstraal Daycare Centre went unanswered. Residents claim that the children are exposed to the hazardous waste dumped next to the school and that some of the children from the community use the illegal dumping sites as playgrounds.
On that Saturday, members of the community took the rubbish that had piled up outside the daycare centre and spread it along Long Street and Bree Street.
The police contacted Joy Williams, the Ward councillor, who was busy with voter registration, and took her to the scene. The irate community members explained that their problem was not with Williams, as she has previously tried to help, but with the municipality. Williams phoned the municipal manager, who was unable to attend as he was at a funeral.
A truck was sent soon after this to clear up the rubbish.Williams pointed out that it is the responsibility of the Directorate of Community Services, as entrusted by the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, to ensure that communal collection points are cleaned on a regular basis, citing the Government Gazette of 6 November 2009.
The South African Constitution states that municipalities have the responsibility to ensure that all citizens are provided with services to satisfy their basic needs.
Two of these basic services are refuse removal and providing a clean and healthy environment.
These services have a direct effect on the quality of the lives of the people in that community. If refuse removal is not done on a regular basis and the environment not kept clean, it contributes to unhealthy and unsafe living environment.
As the Councillor of Ward 14, Joy Williams has had numerous meetings with the executive management of the Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality to discuss the appalling state of the ward for which she is directly responsible.
She has made numerous phone calls, visits and submitted written complaints about the lack of service delivery in Ward 14 and the towns in the municipality in general. It took the events of 10 March to eventually get some reaction from the municipality.
The previous Camdeboo Municipality received two awards on a district and provincial level for the cleanest town in the province.
“It is with great embarrassment that I can easily state that we have become the dirtiest towns in the province at this current time,” said Cllr Williams.
She is increasingly frustrated by what she sees as the “don’t care” attitude displayed by management and officials; questions whether they understand their responsibility towards the community and the constitutional mandate given to Local Government as stated in the constitution and listed in the Batho Phele Principals.
The Community Services department appears to be in dire straits and needs urgent intervention.
The protest displayed by the community of Santaville on 10 March is, according to Williams, just the tip of the iceberg.
As a councillor, Williams has registered all complaints received from the community with Community Services but nothing has happened, despite the fact that council had taken a resolution that all complaints would be resolved within seven working days.
“It has become evident that Community Services do not adhere to this resolution taken by Council,” she said.
“Members of the community often do not understand that the councillors’ appeals often fall on deaf ears of the Administration,” she continued, showing evident frustration.
Williams appeals to the community to remain calm while members of Council work internally to resolve complaints submitted to the Municipal Manager.
She also requests members of the community to assist local government to keep the areas and surroundings clean.
The Advertiser approached the municipality for comment in this regard, however, at the time of going to press, no feedback had been received.
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