City councillors are calling on the authorities to distribute resources evenly across all wards

During a Ward Councillors’ Forum meeting on March 15, 2023, councillors in Region F requested that the City of Johannesburg distribute resources equally across wards to address service delivery matters. The councillors complained that projects were being stopped or removed from the capex list without explanation, causing problems when working with their communities as reported by Joburg Newsroom.

MMC Jack Sekwaila, who oversees the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, acknowledged the issue and urged officials to clearly explain these matters. He added that Region F is often the first entry point for people arriving in the city, making it important to address service delivery issues.

The councillors also raised concerns about theft and vandalism of traffic lights, potholes, vagrancy in parks, homeless people, illegal structures, water and electricity connections, illegal shops and buildings, cable theft, and unreliable water supply. In addition, they complained about some entities’ lack of communication and updates and urged them to follow the example of those that provide continuous updates.

Region F’s Regional Director, Irene Mafune, reported that weekly multi-disciplinary service delivery operations were reaching most wards, and the plan was to continue maximizing efforts to improve services in the region. In addition, citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) had been conducting inspections in different wards to assess challenges and develop mitigation measures, particularly regarding illegal dumping and urban decay.

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