Service delivery issues

Northam – A huge number of Northam community members turned up at the public participation session held in ward 7 on Tuesday 3 November. The session was hosted by Thabazimbi Local Municipality (TLM).  

The outreach was held to give community members an opportunity to give their input and raise their concerns about the municipality’s 2021/2022 budget which will finance the local government body’s current and future service delivery initiatives.

Key service delivery issues such as refuse collection, potholes, overflowing sewerage, water bills, the safety of Mojuteng children, lack or shortage of parks, lack of high mast lights in Mojuteng, unfinished sportsgrounds, illegally occupied old RDP houses, newly built RDP houses as well as the high unemployment rate came under discussion.

During the discussions, it was resolved that more women must be appointed to head certain projects to ensure the municipality reflected gender equity. The storm water drainage next to Krause Primary school will soon be a thing of the past, according to TLM acting technical services director Mr Billy Tlhabadira. The municipality also revealed that temporary efforts to deal with potholes were in progress while engagements with Magalies Water regarding technical issues related to the supply of the precious resource will be intensified.

TLM mayor councillor John Fischer indicated that engagements with mining companies to play a key role in economic transformation are underway.

He further encouraged all those present to consider the formation of a business forum as such a move would lead to better coordination between local entrepreneurs and the local governing body. A commitment by the municipality was also made to deal with all service delivery issues related to the construction of RDP houses in the Helen Park area.