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Lack of management places Rooipoort landfill at further risk

 

In November 2016, the Merafong Local Municipality considered a report on a compliance inspection conducted by the Gauteng Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs (GPDEA) at the Rooipoort Landfill facility, outside Carletonville in Merafong.

 
The Department informed the Merafong Council that its landfill site did not comply with the required permit conditions and charged the Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Thibini, with fifty different charges of non-compliance which carry a fine not exceeding R10million or imprisonment.

 

The ANC-run Council at the time approved a R10 million budget to address some of the urgent problems at the landfill.

 

The ANC refused to support the DA in adding a recommendation to the resolution that the Acting Municipal Manager be formally disciplined.

 

In March this year, the Integrated Environmental Management Committee considered yet another report on a compliance audit conducted at the Rooipoort Landfill.

 

The Department again stated categorically that the Rooipoort Landfill site still does not comply with the required permit conditions.

 

According to the report, 50% of the R10 million budgeted to address issues at the site had already been spent.

 

The DA conducted its own inspection and found that there had been no improvement at the site since November 2016.

 

On the 30th March 2017, the Council decided to suspend the services of both the Acting Executive Director of Integrated

 

Environmental Services and the Acting Municipal Manager pending a full investigation.

 

While Merafong has been without a permanent Municipal Manager for some time, these suspensions exacerbate the situation and place the site at further risk.

 

The Rooipoort Landfill site is Merafong’s only waste disposal site. Should this site be closed in terms of the provisions of the Act, Merafong will be in serious trouble.

 

Alternatively, should a fine be imposed, the cash-strapped Merafong would battle to pay.

 

It is about time that the ANC Leadership in Merafong gets its affairs in order and takes steps to avoid closure of this site.

Media Enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL and Blackie Zwart
DA Constituency Head: Merafong and Caucus head: Merafong
060 556 4344

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Protest Action Rocks Unstable Merafong

Protest Action

Protest action has flared up in Merafong as municipal workers have blocked the council building with refuse removal trucks demanding payment for overtime work.

Workers at the protest claim that they have not been paid for the long hours of overtime that they have worked, citing that normal working hours are hampered by the unavailability of fuel and other tools they require to do their jobs.

Click here to view image.

Service delivery in the municipality has dropped to an all-time low with residents and businesses taking matters into their own hands by repairing potholes and cutting grass themselves.

Slow Service Delivery

Despite paying thousands of rands to the council to ensure that services are delivered, business in Carletonville have sent members of their own staff to repair damaged potholes in the area as the council refuses to do so.

Click here to view image.

These companies are also paying private security companies to guard substations to ensure that electricity is not disconnected.

Last year, a ring-feed cable was stolen, leaving some residents without power for up to seven months.

The cause of the slow delivery of services is due to the fact that the municipality claims that it does not have the resources to deliver on its mandate.

Municipal Public Accounts Committee

Merafong has one of the lowest collection rates in the province and instead of addressing its problems, it simply chooses to ignore them.

The financial mismanagement of this municipality has left its residents and businesses in a dire situation.

The DA insists that the Municipal Public Accounts Committee conduct an investigation into the financial mismanagement of this municipality. Residents of Merafong can no longer suffer under this uncaring ANC-led administration.

In DA governed municipalities, prudent financial management is executed to ensure that residents receive the services that they are constitutionally entitled to, but also that investors are attracted to the region to uplift and improve the quality of life for all.

 

 

Media Enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Merafong

060 556 4344

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Carletonville Testing Centre Turning Motorists Away

The Merafong municipality’s failure to maintain equipment at the Carletonville Testing Centre is forcing motorists to travel 40 km to the next nearest centre in Randfontein.

The machine used to test brakes at the centre needs to be re-calibrated, but the municipality has stonewalled the approval of the R15 000 payment required to do so.

Amid the already tumultuous financial situation the municipality finds itself in – it is now losing an estimated R50 000 to R100 000 a month in unperformed roadworthy tests.

The DA is particularly concerned over the impact this would have on road safety in the area, as well the local economy.

Not every vehicle owner will be able to travel to Randfontein due to cost constraints and limited time off from work, potentially increasing the number of unroadworthy vehicles on the roads.

Quality service delivery should not be curtailed because a municipality refuses to acknowledge the long-term income benefit from a short term outlay.

The DA will engage with Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi and request that he ensure Merafong fast track this payment.

 

Media Enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Merafong

060 556 4344

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Merafong Water Crisis Now Affecting Emergency Services

Dysfunctional Municipal Services

Dysfunctional municipal services in Merafong have led to the complete destruction of a family home in Carletonville as emergency service workers could not carry out their relief work when the home caught alight.

Upon arrival emergency services could not locate the nearest hydrant as there were no markings on the street lights – which were out of order.

When one was located, the water pressure was too low for fire fighters to douse the flames.

As a result, the home was completely gutted and the family lost all their possessions.

Deteriorating Infrastructure

This incident has highlighted the precarious situation in which Merafong finds itself. Should there be a large scale fire, the municipality will simply not have the means to protect the lives of residents.

More than 52% of water in Merafong is lost every month due to ageing and deteriorating infrastructure, despite the local municipality insisting that it has a water loss management plan.

The DA has, on numerous occasions called on Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, for a provincial intervention in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.

Time and time again our requests have been ignored while residents of Merafong are left in desperate need of assistance.

The DA has assisted the family by providing blankets, food and water, however, if the situation in Merafong is not addressed urgently, this could become the norm.

(Pictures available on request)

 

Media Enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL
DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Merafong
060 556 4344

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NCOP week: DA Gauteng to carry out alternative oversight visits

This morning, 22 July 2015, DA Gauteng Members of Parliament, DA Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, DA West Rand councillors, activists and volunteers will carry out oversight visits to municipal service delivery crisis points in the Merafong and Mogale City local municipalities.

These visits are in response to the refusal of the National Council of Provinces to visit sites where municipalities experience severe service delivery capacity shortcomings.

 

Mogale City

Date: 22 July 2015

Time: 08:00

Venue: Katlego cultural facility, Kromdraai

Contact: Dennis Pretorius – 083 679 8541

 

 

Merafong

Date: 22 July 2015

Time: 08:30

Venue: Sinkhole along the R500 near the 007 Restaurant, Carletonville. Followed by a visit to the Khutsong water reservoir.

Contact: Ina Cilliers MPL – 060 556 4344

 

There will be opportunities for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

 

Media enquiries:

Jacques Julius MP

DA Gauteng Member of the NCOP

083 420 1309

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NCOP side-steps West Rand service delivery ills

 

Side Stepping

This week, from 21 to 24 July 2015, Gauteng members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) are set to conduct oversight visits to various government service delivery programmes and projects across the West Rand.

The purpose of this week’s NCOP week is to advance the developmental agenda of municipalities and rectify the shortcomings identified when oversight is conducted.

However, while this work is critical to ensure municipalities provide quality services to residents, this week’s visits will be of little benefit, as not all projects to be inspected were implemented by West Rand local municipalities.

Few Prospects

Residents of the West Rand have been faced with less and less job prospects as a result of the steady decline in mining and agricultural activities, and government should actively pursue sustainable programmes to promote investment, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

It appears the NCOP is using this week to tell “feel-good stories”, while residents across the West Rand would rather have the delegation address critically important matters as regards their quality of life.

To this end the DA will this week draw attention to sites that are in desperate need of intervention, such as:

  • The sinkhole right next to the R500 near Carletonville, which formed as a result of water leaks from a poorly maintained water pipe;
  • The leaking water reservoir in Khutsong causing residents to suffer regular water outages;
  • The incomplete Droogheuwel water tower in Randgate, Randfontein, causing indefinite delays to the planned housing project nearby; and
  • The tunnel project at the Donaldson Dam in Krugersdorp and cattle farming project in Westonaria, which have both failed as a result of the West Rand Development Agency’s inability to manage these projects.

Each of these have the potential to create much needed job opportunities for local residents and provide the means to learn new skills – while serving their own communities.

This will instil a sense of pride and dignity among people who will every day see the fruits of their labours build a strong and cohesive environment, where their friends, neighbours and children will enjoy the freedom to be all they can be.
Media Enquiries:
Jacques Julius MP
DA Gauteng Member of the NCOP
083 420 1309

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Thousands affected as sinkhole swallows Carletonville water supply line

Poor maintenance

A sinkhole which appeared over the main water supply line to Carletonville is nothing more than a result of poor maintenance.

While water has been restored to the town through emergency supplies from Rand Water; further cuts are likely if this issue is not addressed in its entirety.

Click here to view pictures.

Many people assume that sinkholes are a natural disaster, but most are caused by water from leaking pipes seeping into the dolomite below the lines.

Leaking pipes

In fact more than 52% of water in Merafong is lost every month due to ageing and deteriorating structures, despite the local municipality insisting that they have a water loss management plan.

The people of Carletonville will continue to face interrupted and inconsistent water supply unless long-term measures are put in place to upgrade and maintain these lines.

The Executive Director of Infrastructure Development for the municipality has admitted that it will cost more than R900 million to get this infrastructure back to adequate levels.

Constitution

The fact remains that Merafong simply does not have the funds and the DA reiterates its call for a provincial intervention in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.

Until this happens the residents of Merafong will continue to suffer without basic access to vital water supplies. Coupled with other critical delivery failures, those living in this municipality will not receive the services they deserve.

Media Enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL
Constituency Head: Merafong
060 556 4344

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Carletonville Hospital without Hot Water

During an oversight visit to Carletonville Hospital yesterday, it was disturbing to learn that the hospital had been without any hot water since the end of January.

Despite reports of contractors being assigned to look into the problem, to date, no clear indication was given of when the problem would be resolved, nor what caused the crisis in the first place.

Boil Water in Kettles

At the moment hospital staff are forced to boil water using kettles and urns to avoid having patients washing with cold water.

The responsibility for the maintenance of health facilities in Gauteng lies with the Department of Infrastructure Development headed by MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, and this department has become notoriously infamous for its uncaring attitude, careless spending, missed deadlines and costly disputes with suppliers.

Restoring Order at Carletonville Hospital

The DA calls on MEC Mayathula-Khoza to ensure that order is restored back to Carletonville Hospital without delay.

The DA will submit written questions to MEC Mayathula-Khoza to determine the causes of this crisis and demand that efforts be stepped up to ensure that hot water is restored as soon as possible.

 

Media enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL

DA Constituency Head: Merafong

060 556 4344

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Delayed Electrification Sets Khutsong Ablaze

Residents of Khutsong south, ext. 5, near Carletonville, have taken to the streets, burning tyres and blockading roads over the non-electrification of RDP houses in the area.

Over a thousand RDP units in the area are still without power – despite owners taking occupation more than three years ago.

This is another example of how residents in Merafong have been forgotten by the ANC-led municipality.

In the third quarter of this financial year, only 21% of Merafong’s R294 million capital budget had been spent, and it is likely that residents will continue to suffer at the hands of an uncaring government.

In February of this year, I called on the Gauteng MEC for Local Government, Jacob Mamabolo, to institute a provincial intervention in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution and to place Merafong under provincial administration.

To date, there has been no move to by the MEC to take the matter in hand.

As a result of this inaction, the DA has moved to petition for the removal of the Mayor and Municipal Manager before the situation is beyond fixing.

This petition has so far collected 6 000 signatures and is rapidly increasing.

If no action is taken soon, residents of Khutsong ext. 5 will continue to remain on the periphery of society.

Media enquiries:
Ina Cilliers MPL
DA Constituency Head: Merafong
060 556 4344

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