(Foto: Mangaung Ratepayers Association/Facebook)
The AfriForum branch in Bloemfontein has made sharp comments on the Mangaung metro’s integrated development plan (IGP), which was announced on 15 May, and insists that the metro prioritizes basic service delivery and the repair of critical infrastructure in its budget.
According to AfriForum, the metro’s budget must be “realistic and focused on service delivery” and sufficient funds must be made available for the repair and maintenance of roads, storm water systems, water and sewage infrastructure, electricity networks, public spaces and waste management.
“Residents must no longer bear the consequences of defective planning, insufficient maintenance and poor budget prioritization. The municipality must use its available resources where it will have the greatest impact on residents’ daily lives,” says Christo Groenewald, AfriForum’s district coordinator in Bloemfontein.
In its comments on the GOP, the organization places particular emphasis on waste disposal.
The organization requests that AfriForum in Bloemfontein, where appropriate, be recognized as a community-based service provider, especially in areas where private institutions already have to step in to remove rubbish when the metro fails to do so.
The organization also asks that the application of residents who already use private waste removal services for exemption from municipal waste removal rates be properly considered.
In a corner is a rubbish dump where rubbish and waste is dumped. (Photo: Terésa Coetzee/Maroela Media)
“It is unfair that residents have to pay in full for a municipal service while at the same time they have to provide for the same essential service out of their own pocket,” says Groenewald.
AfriForum further asks that the metro review its rates for the use of the landfill. According to the organization, excessive tariffs can discourage responsible waste management and contribute to illegal dumping.
Groenewald says the IDP process should not simply be an administrative exercise, but an opportunity where residents and organizations can provide real input on how tax money is spent.
“The Mangaung metro must direct its budget towards the restoration of basic services and the maintenance of essential infrastructure. Residents pay for services and have the right to expect that these services are delivered reliably, affordably and transparently,” he says.
He adds that the metro should consider practical collaboration with community institutions and private service providers where these are already helping to fill service delivery gaps.
AfriForum says the organization will continue to monitor the metro’s budget process, tariff structures and service delivery and will continue to exert pressure for better infrastructure planning and accountable management.