Disgruntled Coffee Farm residents say non-operational and faulty streetlights are a major concern in the communities of KwaNdengezi and Pinetown. Concerned resident, Sydney Shezi, said the community has been living in the dark since 2014 and he has been reporting the issue to the Ward 12 Councillor and eThekwini Municipality to have them fixed, however, all fell on deaf ears.
“Since 2014, some of the streetlights have not been repaired leaving the streets dark and dangerous for road-users. This puts them at risk of getting mugged and hijacked in the early mornings and late evenings. When I called I was told that the case had been closed, without any repairs being done.
“I do not know whether it is because our councillor, Vusumuzi Mbanjwa, is an independent candidate and his requests are not as important as those of other ward councillors. It is a real shame and I wish the municipality would treat all communities in the same manner and ensure that service delivery is delivered equally thought the eThekwini wards,” said Shezi.
The ward councillor, Vusumuzi Mbanjwa, said he feels the issues of poor service delivery in his ward are political.
“The municipality has failed the community of Ward 12 dismally and I feel that it is because I am an independent councillor and I am not affiliated to the ruling party. The issue of streetlights is just one of many challenges this community is faced with for some years. At some point I was able to get things done in my ward with the help of Mrs Mthembu who would write down all the issues we have and escalate them to the various department heads, however, after she was moved from her department I have no one to help me,” said Cllr Mbanjwa.
He added that at some point, Mthembu visited the ward to take down all the pole numbers of the streetlights which were not working so she could report them but to date nothing has been done.
“Another challenge we have had in the ward is that of houses which were destroyed in the 2017/ 2019 heavy rains. To date I can tell you that none of those families received relief and to them it seems as if I am the one who is not doing my job. In these upcoming elections I have decided to step down as councillor. I will not be running so that my community will receive all the services they need. For service to be delivered in a community you have to be affiliated with the ruling party,” Cllr Mbanjwa said.
He said he has trails of emails sent to the department heads and the eThekwini Mayor and the responses he received were always the same, stating that officials or technicians will be sent out. “When those teams are sent out they just write down the faults and never return,” said Cllr Mbanjwa.
EThekwini Municipality’s Communications Department was contacted for comment, no response was received by the time of going to print.
