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
PICTURE: Pixabay
Picture: Stephanie Van Rayen
Picture: Pixabay
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