Mayor hears residents' side
By Nangamso Mabindla
4 October 2007
JOB creation, electricity, housing, and road problems are issues in Buffalo City's sights.
This was the assurance given to residents in wards 35 to 37 - which include Dimbaza, Pirie Mission, Mzintshane and Mzantsi - by Executive Mayor Zintle Peter during her annual mayoral imbizo programme.
The imbizo programme, which was started in 2006, aims to provide a place for residents to participate in local government and to give suggestions on the City Development Strategy, a 20-year plan aimed at boosting Buffalo City's economy.
One of the Expanded Public Works Programme projects in Buffalo City
During last year's imbizo, residents of the three wards raised concerns about the state of the roads, which they said impeded emergency medical vehicles from reaching residents.
They also spoke of the lack of electricity, and the lack of community halls and toilets in the areas.
Starting her 2007 programme, Peter returned to Mzintshane and Dimbaza on Wednesday, 3 October.
She told residents that since the previous meeting, the municipality had spent over R150 000 repairing the 2.8km gravel road in Pirie Mission. "In ward 35, we spent R235 000 repairing the 4.2km gravel road in Zabalaza, Enyanisweni and Nomgadla," Peter added.
On the building of toilets in these wards, the City had submitted a business plan for the entire municipality, Peter said. "We have submitted the plan to the Municipal Infrastructure Grant for funding and are now waiting for its approval."
She also said: "We have also referred your electricity queries to Eskom and I'm told that they are busy with that."
Talking about job creation, Peter said the City was compiling a new database was being compiled listing people in need of jobs. This would be linked to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). "There will be people coming to Buffalo City communities to put people's names on our database."
Furthermore, temporary jobs were being created for local communities in EPWP projects like the refurbishment of the Bhisho Airport, the executive mayor said.
In Dimbaza, residents spoke of their concerns about the closure of factories in the township. Peter told them the City was busy speaking to investors "about the possibility of bringing business to Dimbaza". Both the provincial government and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation were assisting Buffalo City in these efforts, she added.
The City was looking to build the Dimbaza Wall of Fame as one of its projects. This, Peter said, would cost R1-million.
Residents also told their executive mayor of their worries over their children's safety when going to school, their concerns about unemployment and about the need for electricity in specific areas.
Peter said the City would look for solutions to these issues.
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