“Why would investors want to invest, or people relocate here?” asks the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Northern Cape Business Chamber (Nocci).
CEO Sharon Steyn recently posted pictures to accompany her social media post lamenting the decaying state of Kimberley, a city “we love and want to invest in”.
She referred to knocked-over lamp and street poles, potholes, fly-tipping, water and sewage leaks, and overgrown verges.
“Some poles are knocked down in accidents, but the Sol Plaatje Municipality have no visible traffic management, speed control and stop street or traffic light monitoring. Motorists drive as they please.”
She says there are six main areas where the traffic lights have not been working for over five months.
“The municipal traffic department do not realise the hazard of poles lying on pavements. Many streetlights are not working. It seems the municipality is not interested to replace it or at least remove the knocked-down poles. If there is no money to replace it, where is it?”
In Oliver Road, in front of the Diamond Pavilion Shopping Mall, there are five bent lamp and street poles in a 100 m stretch, as well as a rusted electrical box and exposed wires at a traffic light.
Steyn claims there are directors, managers, and a traffic chief at the municipality, “but what do they achieve? No bylaws are enforced. It seems officials tick boxes and have meetings all day long, but no successes are visible on the streets.
“Kimberley has much potential for investors as we do not have factories or big industry. We can be a first-class investment destination.”
She says local business owners want to believe in the city’s future.
“Businesses continue to invest money, yet the neglect is everywhere. We pay enormous rates and taxes but what do we get back? Businesses are forced to pay extra to clean streets and get security systems. There are regular water supply interruptions. The cost of electricity is sky-high. Job opportunities are at stake.
“Government, who wants to grow a successful, modern city and province, must work with business and residents to resolve the situation.
“Kimberley is a disgrace. It would be interesting if Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa would again mention how dirty the city is during his forthcoming visit.”
Thabo Mothibi, municipal spokesperson, says the executive mayor, Kagisho Sonyoni, called a meeting with executive directors and line managers recently.
“He expressed serious concerns about service delivery and non-responsiveness to the matters raised. We have been urged to uphold what we owe unto residents and ratepayers of Kimberley; value for money and good living.
“We must up the ante by being responsive and dealing with the eyesores in our living spaces.
“Ratepayers are within their rights to report leaking pipes, damaged assets, and shoddy workmanship or incomplete work undertaken by officials.
“Residents are encouraged to report problems to our call centre (053-830-6111) and seek to be provided with feedback. We will soon also introduce other means of directing queries to the municipality.”
Mothibi says service delivery WhatsApp groups have councillors as participants, which has proven to be effective to complaints and service delivery matters. Residents must familiarise themselves with their ward-based councillors expected to be of service, he says.
With regards to illegal dumping and littering, a cleansing plan for the CBD which entails targeting hotspots and undertaking collecting of waste three times a day at 25 identified collection points, will be announced soon.
“Peace officers will be on the beat in dealing with business and residential offenders. A zero-tolerance approach will be at play as part of law enforcement and uphold of by-laws. Fines will also be enforced.
“We want the public to partner with us in bringing to book those behind illegal dumping. Our efforts will stretch beyond the Kimberley CBD.”
An announcement involving three spheres of government to deal with litter and fostering green spaces will be made next month. Once received, Mothibi’s comment on the damaged lamp posts will be included.
