Cowdray Park residents up in arms with Councillor for poor service delivery

RESIDENTS of Cowdray Park are up in arms against Ward 28 Councillor Collet Ndhlovu for poor service delivery amid revelations that burst sewers were last repaired last year.

In separate interviews residents accused Clr Ndhlovu of neglecting the area, as there were still no roads 11 years after people started living in the area while perennial sewer bursts put people's lives at risk.

A resident, Mr Peter Dlodlo, said the burst sewers were an eyesore as they kept on recurring.

"The burst sewers are not a pleasant sight at all and we have tried to engage Clr Ndhlovu on the matter but nothing was done.

"We are now living in fear for our children’s lives because they may be found playing in those dirty pools of water, risking their lives to water- borne diseases," said Mr Dlodlo.

He said what disappointed him most was the fact that they were paying service charges yet they saw no improvement in service delivery.

Another resident, Ms Sibongile Ngwenya, said some residents had resorted to burning refuse as a way of disposing of it.

"Some of us have now resorted to burning refuse as a way of disposing it.  If we wait for refuse collection by council, it will pile up as they do not have a fixed day for collection," she said.

Mrs Ngwenya said the area had no roads and that contributed to failure to collect refuse.

"There are no roads in the area and maybe that's why the refuse collection team rarely comes.

"We therefore appeal to relevant authorities to intervene because this has become a cause for concern," she said.
Miss Buhle Moyo, another resident, alleged Clr Ndhlovu did not attend residents' meetings.

"Whenever we call for residents' meetings the councillor does not attend and we tend to wonder how our problems will be heard or solved," she said.

Miss Moyo said there was an area which had no tower lights and this made walking in the evening dangerous because of criminals.

Clr Ndhlovu said he usually receives reports of burst sewers and forwards them to council but denied allegations that he did not attend meetings.

"I usually receive reports from residents complaining of burst sewers and I forward them to council.

"Some of them have been repaired but I do not know about those that are said to keep on bursting.

"Allegations that I do not attend meetings are unfounded as I am always up to date with goings on in my ward," said Clr Ndhlovu.

He also confirmed that 10 years after the area was inhabited, there were still no tower lights.

"It is about 10 years and the area still has no tower lights. Council has no money at the moment but we hope the situation will improve soon," he said.

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