March 11, 2004
By Bontle Moeng
THE crowd started gathering at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto long before the officials from the City of Johannesburg arrived, singing and chanting slogans in anticipation of being able to have their say to their mayor.
The public meeting on Wednesday night was one of many the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Amos Masondo, hosts throughout the year in an effort to keep in touch with his constituents.
Some 3 000 people - 2 000 seated and the remainder standing - gathered in the large white tent erected on the football pitch of the stadium to hear the mayor and then pose questions. Such public meetings form part of an ongoing road show by the mayor and his mayoral committee members.
At the start of the meeting questionnaire cards were handed out so that residents could list their comments, issues of concern, or accolades.
Municipal enterprises mayoral committee member, Councillor Mary Ntingane, chaired the meeting and introduced all the members of the mayoral committee.
Overhead projectors showed those present exactly what the City had achieved over the past year. Masondo spoke of the City's job creation programmes, its HIV/Aids policy and the integrated development plan. He also outlined the urban renewal projects underway and praised the City for completing regional parks, such as Thokoza Park. "We have upgraded the areas so that people don't use them as dumping sites. This addresses the whole question of waste management."
Masondo also acknowledged the problems surrounding electricity and water bills, adding: "Our main task is to ensure we install prepaid meters in the Soweto area."
After the mayor's address, Ntingane opened the meeting to the floor for comments and questions. Two issues stood out - the problems of inaccurate billing and that of unemployment.
About 30 people, from areas as far afield as Braamfischerville, Tshepisong West, Emdeni Extension and Zola, questioned the mayor and his committee on a wide range of topics: from a lack of jobs to crime; from involving youngsters in decision-making procedures - Michael from Tshepisong West asked: "Why don't you involve the youth in politics, especially in the area of management?" - to the problems caused by a lack of street signposts.
Most people wanted clarification on media reports of water and electricity write-offs.
Pensioners questioned why there were long queues at the local clinics and were told, by the mayoral committee member for health Prema Naidoo, that renovations were being done to upgrade and improve clinics and more clinics were being built to alleviate overcrowding.
After the question session, each mayoral committee member answered issues relating to their portfolios.
Councillor Brian Hlongwa, for municipal service entities, tackled the issue of prepaid meters. "Many households do not have meters in their backyards and so an estimate has to be made as to how much water and electricity has been used." This was not always accurate, Hlongwa said, adding: "Without a meter monthly statements will produce figures that are either too high or too low." By having a meter each household would also be guaranteed 6 000 kilolitres of free water every month.
Referring to reports about debt write-offs, Councillor Parks Tau, for finance and economic development, said: "Those who come forward to the council and ask for a prepaid meter will have their debt reduced, not written off." He said this process would take time.
Masondo urged pensioners, the unemployed or people who were sick to register with their local People's Centre for service benefits.
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