This is an initiative to decongest informal settlements, in order to upscale service delivery.
Visiting these areas as part of the mayoral Siyaqhuba Service Delivery programme, Ekurhuleni Mayor Clr Mzwandile Masina said re-blocking is important to restore the dignity of people in informal settlements, while they wait for housing developments.
Re-blocking will ensure that informal settlements are accessible through roads grading and that essential services such as electricity and waste services are provided.
“While new chemical toilets are being phased in, channeling of storm water systems and establishing formalised dumping sites, has begun.
“Ward councillors in these areas will meet further with the communities, to formally educate residents about the re-blocking process,” the mayor said.
During the visits, Masina interacted with members of the community who raised various concerns – especially around crime hotspots and lack of recreational facilities in these areas.
Another issue that was brought to the mayor’s attention was lack of lighting, which exposes people to crime.
Masina said he had instructed officials to immediately intervene on issues raised by community members.
“Any issue that can be sorted out immediately; work must begin. For instance, we were told about streetlights not functioning along Main Reef Road, by Angelo informal settlement; that issue was immediately resolved.
“It must be understood that the purpose of Siyaqhuba is to accelerate service delivery, while testing public opinion about the services we render to the community,” said Masina.
The mayor’s visit to the informal settlements was the fourth edition of Siyaqhuba, which has already taken the mayor and the mayoral committee to Tembisa, Katlehong and Tsakane.
Reacting to the mayor’s visit, Pieter Chokoe – a resident at Angelo informal settlement – said if the mayor didn’t come, they wouldn’t have known that the reason their toilets are being phased out, is to make way for an even better system.
