Latest news with #ServiceDeliveryDrive
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- The Citizen
Residents fed up with lack of by-law enforcement by City of Mbombela
Residents fed up with lack of by-law enforcement by City of Mbombela Residents and business owners are gatvol with the City of Mbombela's (CoM) inability to enforce by-laws. Illegal dumping is ongoing and cars are still being repaired on the sides of residential and industrial streets. According to residents, these issues have been raised with the municipality on various occasions but no action has been taken. Despite the CoM's claim that illegal dumping has stopped, it is still a major problem in Mbombela, White River and on the R538. According to a White River ward councillor, Rowan Torr, vehicles are still being repaired on roadsides, especially on Peter Graham and Theo Kleynhans streets. 'The streets are a mess because of spilled oil and littering. It is illegal and the municipality knows it but does nothing,' Torr said. ALSO READ: City of Mbombela tackles Gatvol issues, but it's 'not a one-day job' Car repairs on Stinkhout Crescent in Mbombela have left the area congested and covered with oil. Delivery vehicles, customers and staff of businesses in the area struggle to access their premises as gates are blocked by these cars. Despite the Service Delivery Drive, during which some of these cars on Anderson Street were impounded, most street mechanics have returned and the situation continues. Illegal dumping is still a major problem around Mbombela Stadium, the government village, the KaNyamazane Road, Andrew Street and various other areas. Some residents have taken it upon themselves to clear garbage that is dumped near their homes. The CoM's municipal manager, Wiseman Khumalo, dismissed allegations that municipal by-laws are not effective. ALSO READ: Unkempt pavements and parks leave Mbombela residents gatvol 'Illegal dumping occurs despite designated dumping areas being provided by the municipality. In the areas where we collect waste, such as Mbombela and White River, people illegally dump their garbage on the street. We have placed skips in rural areas which are cleaned on a weekly basis. These are not used, yet people blame the municipality. We do clean up and place signs that say 'No dumping',' he stressed. Concerning the vehicles being repaired on the streets, he said: 'People should stop taking their cars to the street mechanics and rather take them to registered workshops. We attend to the streets where people are fixing cars, but we need members of the public to work with us and this will stop.' He said people must report all these matters to the municipality and they will be attended to. Many residents claim to have reported the matters to the CoM, including sending photos of vehicle registration numbers of persons breaking the by-laws, but no action has resulted. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
18-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
City of Mbombela tackles Gatvol issues, but it's ‘not a one-day job'
While most residents are still gatvol with the City of Mbombela's (CoM) service delivery, some issues have been addressed. The Service Delivery Drive (SDD) was introduced to accelerate the services backlog in the CoM's wards. In Mbombela, residents in certain areas are still waiting for the grass on the roadsides to be cut, the public parks to be cleaned and the trees to be pruned. The CoM's mayor, Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, said they have started working in the affected areas in parts of Mbombela. The grass had been cut and some parks cleaned. 'I must emphasise that the CoM has 45 wards to look after and they all need attention. However, we noted the Gatvol outcry and our officials are attending to issues. It's not going to be a one-day job, but we are going to get to every affected area,' she said. ALSO READ: Unkempt pavements and parks leave Mbombela residents gatvol The SDD is currently in Matsulu after completing the work in KaNyamanzane, where municipal workers were held hostage by residents who were demanding a paved road. 'They were released after the police intervention. It shows all wards want to be serviced with our limited resources. All we ask from our people is that they are patient with us. Continue to report issues and they will be attended to,' she said. ALSO READ: Gatvol kick-starts City of Mbombela's Service Delivery Drive Motorists in Mbombela demand the CoM keeps its promises to repair the potholes near Lowveld High School, in front of Laerskool Bergland, and in Sering and Bosch streets, Koraalboom Avenue and parts of Dr Enos Mabuza Drive. These were reported before the SDD and still nothing had been done. Despite changing fittings, streetlights on most key roads are still not working. This includes traffic lights on Anderson Street that have been off for more than a year now. Makushe-Mazibuko reiterated that all the grievances would be addressed if reported to the municipality through the right channels. As always, no timeline was given for when the work would be done and a lack of funds was blamed. She also said its not like the municipality is not delivering any service and the little that it is doing should be appreciated. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Unkempt pavements and parks leave Mbombela residents gatvol
Residents are still gatvol with the City of Mbombela's (CoM) inability to deliver on their promised Service Delivery Drive (SDD). Overgrown public parks and pavements, unpruned trees and unkempt grass have still not been attended to. Litter is also a major problem and residents fear criminal attacks will increase as a result of uncleared vegetation. Residents of Wilger, Palm, Alibama, Delta and Wolfaard streets, as well as those residing in certain sections of Dr Enos Mabuza Drive, complained that the CoM is ignoring their repeated requests for service delivery. ALSO READ: Local news City of Mbombela in hot water for alleged corruption Despite paying rates and taxes, residents are now banding together to clean their streets themselves. The unused area at the cemetery has deteriorated even further than ever before. Homeless people have moved in, making fires and leaving loads of litter behind. The park at the top of Polvy Street has become dangerous, with people consuming alcohol there and dumping the empty bottles. Despite these complaints, the CoM's municipal manager, Wiseman Khumalo, insists that litter removal, tree pruning and grass clearing are ongoing. ALSO READ: Gatvol kick-starts City of Mbombela's Service Delivery Drive 'Our municipality is servicing 45 wards, some without roads or water. We are aware that the residents complain because they are paying their taxes and rates. We are doing our best to attend to all with limited resources.' He also reiterated that the SDD is accelerating services and all wards are prioritised. According to him streetlights are being repaired and potholes are going to be attended to. 'Grass will not stop growing, but will be attended to. The litter its beyond our control because we have placed dustbins in hotspot areas, but people are ignoring them. We take responsibility to collect them. Our community members need to come on board and stop littering. I must admit that we have been slow in pruning trees, but we are now attending to them. People need to understand that we serve many, not only those in Mbombela. All we ask from residents is to be patient with us,' he said. Khumalo encouraged the CoM's residents to use available platforms to submit their complaints. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
25-04-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Service delivery drive finally reaches KaNyamazane and surrounds
The Service Delivery Drive Campaign (SDD) has moved on to wards 20 and 21 in KaNyamazane and its surrounding areas. The SDD is an initiative of the City of Mbombela (CoM) to deal with service delivery backlogs. According to the CoM's mayor, Cllr Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, the work in wards 18 and 19 was completed as per the lists provided by the councillors. 'We are now moving to KaNyamazane, which also needs our serious attention. Our team will ensure all grievances are attended to. Regravelling of Miyanga and Honeybee streets, and the Belladonna section will be prioritised. We are going to patch potholes, paint road markings and install speed bumps and crossings at various locations, including Tiphembeleni Primary School. The storm water drain in Mthunywa Street will be given special attention,' Makushe-Mazibuko said. ALSO READ: Mammoth potholes on R538 in Masoyi lead to crime According to her, illegal dumping hotspots will also be cleared. These include those at Kamyanga, Vulamasango, eNyokeni, Spot 5 and the entrance to Tiphembeleni Primary School. Makushe-Mazibuko promised that once the SDD is completed, municipal officials will continue to bring services to the people. She also said she was aware that there are areas that have not been attended to. 'They are not being ignored and will get the attention they need. I know there are trees in need of pruning and some potholes that need to be repaired. Those reported are going to be fixed. We must also keep in mind that the constant rains are also a challenge, as it keeps damaging our roads.' ALSO READ: City of Mbombela's Service Delivery Drive delayed by rain She reiterated that non-functioning streetlights are being attended to. Residents should report issues to their ward councillors, or directly to the municipality. 'We plead with our residents to be patient with us as we are using limited resources to attend to their needs. Everything cannot be done in one day. I am aware that some roads are dilapidated and need to be rebuilt, but with the limited budget, it's impossible. However, we are going to maintain them,' Makushe-Mazibuko promised. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Service Delivery Drive tackles issues in wards 18 and 19
Tekwane South, Ntokozweni and KaNyamazane are next in line on the Service Delivery Drive (SDD). The City of Mbombela's (CoM) campaign to accelerate service delivery is moving to wards 18, 19, 20 and 21. The CoM concluded its work in Mataffin, Rocky Drift and Msholozi (Ward 14), eMbonisweni and Backdoor (Ward 38). It lasted three weeks as rain disrupted the process. However, some residents in these areas claim that not all the potholes had been repaired and the gravel roads were not attended to. Another common grievance is not receiving the water they had been promised. One of the huge potholes in Wilkens Street in Rocky Drift is still an eyesore despite numerous requests from residents and ward councillors for it to be fixed. They were hoping it would receive special attention during the SDD. The CoM's municipal manager, Wiseman Khumalo, said the SDD started in wards 18 and 19 on Monday, April 14. Roads were gravelled and a blocked culvert cleaned. Potholes are being patched in KaMagugu, the road in Ntokozweni was regravelled, and faulty streetlights in Valencia's Fuschia Street, Ngwenya Street in KaMagugu and Dr Enos Mabuza Drive are being addressed. ALSO READ: Gatvol West Acres residents demand immediate action We are also going to cut grass in the public parks, roadsides and cemeteries. Inspections of fire hydrants on streets and in complexes are to be done. We are also going to work on road markings, traffic signs and signals. Enforcing the by-laws will be a top priority regarding illegal traders and illegal dumping, just to name a few,' he said. Khumalo said priority lists were compiled by ward councillors. 'The municipality's responsibility is to make it happen by attending to their issues during the campaign and after.' He also dismissed allegations that the CoM did not give its full attention to wards 14 and 38. The CoM shifted its attention to wards 20 and 21 this week. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
