Ward 10 is right in the heart of Makana. It's one of the smallest geographically. Demarcation Board documents puts its number of voters in the last local government elections (2011) at 3 810.
Ward 10 is right in the heart of Makana. It's one of the smallest geographically. Demarcation Board documents puts its number of voters in the last local government elections (2011) at 3 810.
The voting station for Ward 10 is BB Zondani Hall. Following the new ward demarcation, still in draft form, to the east are Hlalani and a large part of Tantyi.
For the rest, it's surrounded by DA-controlled wards: to the north is Ward 3's Xolani; south are Ward 8's Fort England and Sunnyside.
West is Lavender Valley in Ward 4. Ward 10 was the first to be visited by the Council and the municipality's directors, on 4 May, in its series of IDP (integrated development plan) community consultation meetings.
It was also where the Council-led community clean-up took place last Friday.
The ANC's Vuyani Kolisi is the councillor for Ward 10.
At the IDP imbizo residents complained of poor storm water drainage, and outside people being employed on projects when there was a shortage of work opportunities for young people.
Among the IDP priorities listed for the Ward were ensuring a continuous water supply; the replacement of 106 bucket toilet systems; repairing 250 RDP houses in Tantyi; building 377 new houses and police visibility to counter high crime in the area.
Services and tangible change – water, toilets, houses, a safer place to live – are at the heart of the votes parties are working hard to win over in next year's local government elections.
So the ANC-dominated Council must have felt between a rock and a hard place when they opted to drop a proposal for a R25 monthly infrastructure levy for all ratepayers.
The controversial levy intended to fund sewerage, water reticulation and roads first appeared on Makana bills this time last year and was withdrawn. Officials said it would be reinstated once gazetted.
At yesterday's Council meeting councillor Piryawaden Ranchhod caused confusion when he said it was being dropped.
The DA's Les Reynolds said it had never been adopted.
There was good news at yesterday's meeting: acting CFO Busi Khumalo announced that Makana's payment plan to Eskom for its R60 million-plus debt was approved – they signed it.
So just normal load shedding for us then. And bad news. Makana is bleeding municipal assets as desperate creditors succeed in having them attached to be sold for payment.
The good news is R7m from Bhisho to offset debt, along with the promise of legal capacity.
As administrator Pam Yako points out, the municipality currently can't defend even the most basic litigation, and owes far more than it can afford.
The bad news is Makana is running out of time to sort out the mess. Just look at Page 1 to understand how tired people are of waiting.
