logo
ELM not capable of service delivery on its own: ActionSA Sedibeng

ELM not capable of service delivery on its own: ActionSA Sedibeng

The Citizen19-06-2025
ELM not capable of service delivery on its own: ActionSA Sedibeng
SEDIBENG. – On its own, it is impossible for the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) to deliver service to the community!
ActionSA in Sedibeng said that the recently cleaning campaign partnership between the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in South Africa (COGTA) in Gauteng and the ELM indicates that the municipality is not capable of service delivery.
Dubbed Operation Phakama Vaal, it was supported by the Gauteng provincial government, and its main focus is to bring back service delivery and confidence in the community. The Gauteng provincial government said that the operation also aimed, among others, to encourage communities to keep the environment clean.
The Gauteng provincial government said that the initiative followed the recent Provincial Integrated Service Delivery Programme visit that seeks to address service delivery issues, including crime, infrastructure maintenance, and waste management, amongst other things.
The operation focused on Sebokeng, Vanderbijlpark, Evaton, and Vereeniging, mainly tackling illegal dumping, promoting recycling, and restoring neglected public space.
Bongani Dhlamini, ActionSA's Regional Chair, said, 'This is a clear indication that Emfuleni on its own is no longer capable of handling service delivery for the residents of Emfuleni, thus the (our) call for placing Emfuleni under administration and we will take it up with the Gauteng Provincial Legislature,' he said.
Meanwhile, the party launched branches for Wards 6 and 18 in preparation for the upcoming 2026 local government elections.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fury over massive rates and taxes billing crisis in ELM
Fury over massive rates and taxes billing crisis in ELM

The Citizen

time26-07-2025

  • The Citizen

Fury over massive rates and taxes billing crisis in ELM

VANDERBIJLPARK – A storm is brewing in Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) as fed-up residents lashed out over massive water and electricity bills for services they say they never used. This comes after dozens of angry homeowners, especially from Vanderbijlpark, descended on ELM offices demanding answers and action. Angry residents complained about outrageous bills, with some reaching into the hundreds of thousands, and a few even exceeding R1m. Despite the municipality having launched a 50% debt relief campaign to recoup some of the outstanding water and electricity payments, residents complain about incorrect billings for water and electricity. One resident, Thuli Mkadula said, 'We wish the municipality would write off our bills. No resident will be able to pay rates and taxes of approximately R700 000. We are willing to pay the municipality as long as they bill us correctly.' Mantoa Mkomotoane said, 'I was paying R3 000 and later paid R1 000. Now I pay R600 every month, however, every month the bills go up. I don't know where the R1.7m they claim I owe the municipality comes from.' ELM spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni disputed the claims. 'The municipality will deal with the disputes the community is bringing forward. Inconsistency in billing is not only limited to our municipality, but the entire country is going through such challenges. As a municipality, we have been working on resolving these issues; hence, we have a dispute resolution committee, and we will continue,' he said.

University volunteers tackle litter
University volunteers tackle litter

The Citizen

time17-07-2025

  • The Citizen

University volunteers tackle litter

VANDERBIJLPARK.- ASEZ, an international University Student Volunteer Group from the World Mission Society Church of God carried out its 8819th Worldwide Clean-up Campaign at Living Stone Boulevard and Frikkie Meyer Road in Vanderbijlpark's Central Business Division (CBD) on Sunday, June 13. During the campaign, a total of just over fifty volunteers picked up all kinds of litter in collaboration with the with the Emfuleni Local Municipality's (ELM) Waste Management Department in what was hailed as a significant effort towards a clean healthy environment in the Vanderbijlpark community. ASEZ is an international University Student Volunteer Group from the World Mission Society Church of God, which is carrying out volunteer services in 175 countries around the world, under the slogan, 'Save the Earth from A to Z'. ELM's Waste Management Department Manager, Stephen Monyatsi, who also joined the clean-up campaign along with four other colleagues, expressed his gratitude and emphasised the importance of ongoing cleaning. 'We are thankful to ASEZ for coming here to assist us. I always say, waste never ends. As long as there are people, trees, etc, there will be waste. So, thank you so much for this initiative to clean-up the environment together with us, as the municipality of Emfuleni, 'he said. The clean-up was also joined by ASEZ's South Korean members who regularly visit the country and worldwide to lend a helping hand to local members. The Korean university students have been working in a strong bond with the local students to amplify the voices of youth around the world and urge global collective actions for a better future. ASEZ member from the North West University (NWU) Tatenda Kanyenze said she hoped the clean-up helps to raise the awareness to the community in protecting the environment. 'We hope that through this meaningful clean-up, we can raise awareness even in this area in taking care of our planet together for a better tomorrow. We aim to share the warmth and love of a mother to all our neighbours and the world, especially those facing climate disasters and other hardships,' she concluded. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

Deteriorating conditions inside Helen Joseph Women's Hostel in Alexandra
Deteriorating conditions inside Helen Joseph Women's Hostel in Alexandra

The Citizen

time11-07-2025

  • The Citizen

Deteriorating conditions inside Helen Joseph Women's Hostel in Alexandra

Women living inside the Helen Joseph Women's Hostel in Alexandra endure uninhabitable conditions: Collapsing ceilings, persistent sewage flooding, flooded laundry rooms, relentless fear, and overcrowding. Residents say these challenges can be attributed to years of neglect by the city. Among the affected residents is Lena Sebotsane, who has been living in the hostel for 38 years. What was once a place of refuge for Sebotsane, and other residents, has deteriorated into a space of hardship. 'Most of us are from rural places, and we had a good life here, but now, we don't know what to say or where to go. We don't even have water in the bathrooms. When you go to the toilet, you have to use buckets of water to flush.' Some of the laundry rooms are flooded with water, and one of the old kitchens is flooded with raw sewage, which is exuding a foul stench. On one floor, residents say raw sewage once flooded the entire laundry room. To keep it out of their rooms, they had to stack sacks of sand at the entrance of the corridor. It has since subsided, but the stench remains. Also read: Public Protector confirms receipt of Helen Joseph Hostel complaint The issue of sanitation and sewage has plagued the residents for over a decade. It appears in a report by the SA Human Rights Commission, which addresses a complaint about the state of the hostel lodged by a resident in 2012. The report noted that irregular water supply and the poor state of plumbing in the hostel impacts sanitation. Furthermore, it notes that leaking water pipes from upper floors are causing damage to the ceilings below. Still to date, similar challenges persist. Inside the hostel, there are leaking and collapsed rooves. Some taps function, while others are broken, spilling water beneath sinks. Also read: ActionSA complains about the misuse of funds at Helen Joseph Hostel For DA councillor Bea Campbell-Cloete, the living conditions are shocking and disheartening. 'Our jails look better than what our women and children are expected to live in,' she stressed, following her oversight visit to the hostel on July 10. 'There is raw sewage running everywhere. Some of the sewers have been leaking for years. The stairs are just about ready to collapse. In some areas you can see from one floor to the next.' Campbell-Cloete has vowed to escalate the matter beyond local government, to provincial and national levels. 'We need to ensure that, if we make accommodation available for our women and children, we must also keep them safe.' Alex News reached out to the city's Human Settlement Department for comment. Further updates will be provided once given. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store