Redcliff Residents Demand Better Communications Strategy from Municipality

REDCLIFF - Residents of the former steelmaking town of Redcliff have demanded that their town council formulates and implements an effective communications strategy with residents, as a way of improving relations and service delivery.

According to a social media document circulating in the town, home to the now defunct steelmaking giant Ziscosteel, the residents blamed the council for failing to put in place mechanisms that will enable residents and council to communicate effectively.

"As both the municipality and residents are stakeholders in this great town of Redcliff, it is only prudent for us not to take each other for granted, and establish forthwith, a mutually respectful, effective and efficient communication strategy between stakeholders," read part of the document.

Redcliff residents have alleged that council does not have an open door policy and this had created great mistrust between the two groups.

They demanded a communications strategy that made it easier for residents to access information on pertinent issues affecting the town.

"There is need for a strategy that also makes it easier and cheaper for residents to report any breakdown/malfunction in service delivery," the document read.

This demand was made as residents felt that there were no affordable and time-saving ways to report breakdowns in service delivery, such as burst water and sewer pipes, thereby resulting in the problems not being attended to for days.

Residents alleged that at the moment the only available means of reporting breakdowns was either to telephone the council offices or to physically go to the offices, a process they said was not only expensive, but also time consuming, as most residents will be too busy trying to make ends meet to find time to go to the offices.

Redcliff residents also demanded for council to make it easier for the municipality to swiftly inform residents of a breakdown/malfunction in service delivery, and an update on measures being taken to address the problem.

This demand was made in light of what they described as "being left in the dark" by the council when there is a breakdown in service.

They alleged that they could go for days without water supply, and yet not know what the problem was, how it was being fixed, and how long it would take to solve the issue.

"A car, at times, goes around making announcements via loudspeaker, but this is seldom regular," they alleged.

As the level of trust between the council and residents had hit a low ebb, residents also demanded to be put in place any other mechanisms that will build trust between residents and the municipality.

"In so doing, we can be certain of moving our town into modernity. Transparency, cooperation, accountability and trust that are essential for any development within any establishment. Redcliff is no exception. Please let's build on that," concluded the document.