Friday, September 27, 2024

Urban Settlements Development Grant Strategy Proceeds


The City of Cape Town (COCT) held a special council meeting virtually on Wednesday via Skype today at 10am. The main speaker was Felicity Purchase a Democratic Alliance (DA) counsellor. The meeting consisted of a number of councillors 203 attended the meeting. The meeting was about a new strategy being implemented for councillors and the certain areas to promote infrastructure in areas in their ward region.

The councillor Ashley Addinall from the Patriotic Alliance (PA) proceeded asking which areas will benefit of the USDG grant as areas where people live in sewer water. 

The councillor expressed his concern and hopes that the grant will look after those types of areas in need. He proceeded to ask how beneficial the grant will be when these types of areas experience flooding during winter. 

Their health is affected by living in health hazardous water and what the DA is doing about it as they claim Cape Town is the best run city. The councillors made sure attack the COCT on their shortcomings.

Anastasia Davids from the National Coloured Congress (NCC) party stated that the water and sanitation strategy raises concerns and will impact the communities especially the tariff hikes. The right access basic services and claims citizens are already placed under such financial distress and more burdens and this will put them in a even worst position than before.

With Eskom announcing a 36% tariff increase in electricity citizens are fearful. The NCC wants the water and sanitation tariff to be reduced at affordable rates. The party suggests privatisation as it leads to profitability outcomes. The NCC feels infrastructure bias is occuring by the DA led city and council due to pipe outbursts and sewer outflow. The councillor mentioned a number of people whose health was affected due to water and sanitation issues. The NCC wants the strategy to provide infrastructure improvements in marginalized communities.

There are number of communities who have the same problem, but only certain wards were mentioned Davids claimed only certain areas are seen too.

 Yusuf Dalwai from the Al-Jama party expressed his concerns about the water and sanitation strategy on residents. He claims that it is not just about neglect in the marginalized communities, but also need to focus on the see ability and not overlook the areas of water and sanitation suffering. 

The storms that occurred during winter caused flooding in certain areas and due to lack of infrastructure a number of residents homes were flooded by storm water. The councillor then proceeded to ask the question during the building of infrastructure was it not foreseeable that the houses, buildings etc would experience flooding.

The party Al-Jama had to help residents during the winter months and other aids to recover the damage caused by the weather. The electricity increases is not making things easier for residents and talks about water being scrapped to pay other bills will worsen current living conditions. He believes that they have to watch the water and sanitation strategy with a critical eye.

 With councillors watching the government they lose focus on the needs of the communities and do not see it as helping, but rather doing the citizens a favour and expect praises.

Pieter Jansen- Van Vuuren from the Freedom Front (VF) Plus. He proceeded to say there a number of notes and questions about the strategy document. Van-Vuuren says he was part of sub-council 2 which suffered water and sanitation issues including other factors.

The VF plus party would like know if the funds only be spent on informal settlements for water and sanitation systems. But wonders if every rate payer come execution will be treated fairly. Judging by the annexures provided in the virtual meeting the councillor can see the extensive pressure the systems are under. The councillor raises concern and wonders if they are ever going to catch up and the consequences if they don’t. The conditions of sewage drains are revolting which explains why they are problem. The party closes the argument saying will the ratepayers ever get the quality of service delivery they deserve for which they pay for.

 South Africans often have to fight for their basic rights a rule was said that if residents are unable to pay their rates it will be deducted when they buy electricity which explains why electricity units are limited and citizens limit electricity use.

Lazola Gungxe from the African National Congress (ANC) he says that the water infrastructure is needs to be established, but as the ANC they support the strategy being phased out and will monitor everything including service delivery and infrastructure where it is needed in the COCT.

 

Zahd Badroedien from the DA said straight it is not budget meeting as some members were discussing money and financial constraints, but it is for the approval of the strategy and also creates competition between councillors for this grant to fix the city.

They replaced 19 000 pipes of 25 000 meters across communities and even mentioned where they replaced pipes. He exclaimed that the door of privation should remain closed and that the city should focus on becoming water wise. The strategy solves other problems that have been identified and continue to improve the work that the city is already delivering in all the communities.

 They plan to combat sewer overflows, pump station failures, but also highlight in some communities there are intentional sabotage like dumping pads, papers, tampons etc in toilet pots and manholes.

The councillors were asked to vote whether they agree or disagree with the new strategy introduced those who opposed or agreed are yet to be mentioned. The strategy plan will not just benefit the councillors, but also the ward/s they cater to, which councillors are fighting for.

Speaker Felicity Purchase proceeded to ask all the parties to vote and noted that the reform strategy is not a new strategy. The strategy is to be submitted before the 30 September 2024. 205 councilors voted and the meeting was adjourned.


Done by: Shaneca Cupido

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