Residents of Soshanguve in Tshwane were over the moon to meet the City of Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya during an Imbizo (public participation meeting) in their area.
The Imbizo was held at the local Halala Community Hall on Sunday morning.
The hall was fully-packed to the extent that some residents had to stand in the scorching sun outside the hall just to hear what Dr Moya and her Mayoral Committee had to say to them.
The Mayor said she and her Mayoral Committee visited Soshanguve to outline the City’s 100 day recovery plan to the residents of the area.
The residents welcomed the Mayor with open arms and were happy to be given a chance to ask questions and get clarity on issues that are troubling them as residents of Soshanguve.
Some residents confessed that they have illegally connected electricity to their houses and that they needed help from the City of Tshwane Municipality to resolve this matter.
Residents also pleaded with the Mayor to scrap their existing debts to the municipality and be allowed to start all over again.
They also called for a flat rate as they can’t afford the monthly high rent bills which the municipality expects them to pay.
The Mayor and her team explained various issues including the issue of illegal spaza shops which are owned by illegal foreigners.
Residents also complain about their ward councillors.
“We will have a programme whereby the City of Tshwane Municipality will help locals to register their spaza shops and those who help illegal foreigners to register spaza shops will find themselves on the wrong side of the law,” said the Mayor.
MMCs also gave out their contact numbers to the public so as to make it easy to be contacted when the need arises.
“This is part of our 100 days plan as the City of Tshwane Mayoral Executive Committee which has six priorities and one of those priorities is to connect with the residents of Tshwane through a series of Imbizos.
“We have held Imbizos twice in Region 1 which includes Soshanguve because of water crisis and power outages so it was important for us to come to the community and infirm them about our plans to curb the aforesaid service delivery challenges,” she said.
“Majority of the R23 billion that residents owe to the City of Tshwane is here in Region 1 and it has come to light that many if the residents here couldn’t convert their pre-paid meters as they have bridged them,” said the mayor.
She said the City of Tshwane will take a decision as to which debts are recoverable and which are not recoverable before writing off debts owed to the municipality.
She said in some instances residents must voluntarily come forward for an affordability assessment.
The Mayor said it is problematic because there are allegations that some Councilors don’t talk to residents general but only talk to a select few.
She said another issue that came to light in the imbizo is that some City officials are alleged to be extorting residents of Tshwane.
She said the Mayoral Committee is aware of some of the complaints that were raised during the Imbizo but be that as it may, residents had to be allowed to express themselves on those issues as they can’t just be expected to sit and listen to the Mayco without making an input.
“I am satisfied about the way the meeting panned out as it was peaceful, but the venue was small for this kind of meeting and next time we will do better in this regard,” she said.
“My door is always open for the residents of Tshwane and if any community member has a problem with councillor they can come direct to my office and we will help and deal with the matter, said Chief Whip of council Sam Molatelo Mashola.
“Tshwane will make an announcement in the next few days regarding those who have connected electricity illegally and we will find a solution on how to deal with them and help them,” said MMC for Utility Services Frans Boshielo.
“I’m so happy to be in the imbizo and this is the first time the mayor calls the imbizo in Soshanguve and it really helped a lot because we got clarity on many things,” said Hilda Matlala.
“I’m excited to see the mayor and her team addressing us and giving us answers and I hope this won’t be the last one,” said Peter Maisha.
“I believe and have hope in the new Mayco team and so far, they have done a good work for the community, and this is what we needed as community of Tshwane as a whole,” said Rosinah Ramaila.