ATC200618: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on the Petition Pertaining to Service Delivery in Nemallpius Ext 22, Under the City of Tshwane, Dated 17 June 2020

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS ON THE PETITION PERTAINING TO SERVICE DELIVERY IN NEMALLPIUS EXT 22, UNDER THE CITY OF TSHWANE, DATED 17 JUNE 2020

 

Having considered the petition from the residents of Nemallpius Ext 22 calling on the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs to attend to their service delivery grievances against the City of Tshwane, the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs reports as follows:

 

1. BACKGROUND

 

1. On 04 June 2020, the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs considered an undated petition from the residents of Nemallpius Ext 22, calling on the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs to attend to their service delivery grievances against the City of Tshwane.

 

1. In response to the request, which the Committee entertained in line with its mandate to exercise oversight over the Executive arm and local sphere of Government, the Committee called the City of Tshwane on 04 June 2020 to brief it on the matter.

 

1. PRESENTATION

 

Ms Maggie Tlou, a member of the Committee and a resident of the City of Tshwane, introduced the petition as follows:

 

1. The people ofNemallpius Ext 22 felt neglected by Government, as they had no access to electricity, and network connection. A contractor named Reliant Electricity dashed the residents’ hope of access to electricity when it packed up its electricity installation equipment and left the area due not receiving payment.

 

1. Additional grievances included the distribution of food parcels to well-connected people instead of the poor; insufficient provision of public transportation; the need for a mobile police station to patrol Extension 22; as well as the building of a school.

 

1. Nemallpius had a high percentage of disabled people, and the people’s grievances had been going on for five years.

 

1. RESPONSE BY THE CITY OF TSHWANE

 

1. A serious problem that concerned everybody in Tshwane, and set the area back, was the theft of electricity cables for the purposes of recycling the copper. This continued to be a challenge as the municipality could not reach all the areas, and lacked early warning technology.

 

1. The recently appointed Administrators of Tshwane visited the area earlier in the day, and spent the better part of it speaking to the community about matters of concern. This waspart of their responsibility to restore order and stability in the area, and attend to the electricity matter.

 

1. COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS

 

1. The Committee welcomed the report from the interim administration team of the City Tshwane and applauded the team’s efforts towards the resolution of the problems affecting the municipality’s residents. Although the team answered all questions, the answers were not always satisfactory.

 

1.  A mobile police unit would assist greatly in increasing police visibility and deter crime in Extension 22. The Committee noted the City’s appointment of 169 additional metro police to strengthen capacity to enforce the law.

 

1. There was a danger that the inequitable distribution of services in Ext 22, where some sections were receiving services while others were not, could sow divisions that could further destabilisethe community. There was no sufficient indication to show that the team of administrators was giving this issue due attention. They were simply shifting the responsibility to the Department of Human Settlements, insisting that connecting the houses was not the function of the City. This was not inspiring confidence.

 

1. The Committee noted the submission in absentia by the Department of Human Settlements that many of the challenges experienced related to the introduction of the lockdown, and now that it is permissible for contractors to resume work, these issues will receive the necessary attention. In this regard, the Committee emphasised the need for members, particularly those in Tshwane, to make sure that the contractors are back at work and are on site in Nemallpius.

 

1. RECOMMENDATIONS

 

1. The administration team must immediately put timeframes on the activities pursued to resolve the problems in Nemallpius Ext 22, including the 700 houses due for electrification, as well as the development of a crime prevention plan to address the problem of cable theft and illegal electricity connections

 

1. The City of Tshwane should urgently follow up with the Department of Human Settlements regarding the matter of Reliant Electricity who left Nemallpius Ext 22 allegedly due to non-payment.

 

1. The Department of Human Settlements, which was not in attendance despite invitation, should provide a written response to all the questions directed to it by end of business Tuesday 09 June 2020.

 

 

Report to be considered.