TRADITIONAL leaders of the Mngqesha area were consulted by the City on its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget, before public meetings begin later this week.

More than 20 traditional leaders gathered at Mngqesha Great Place for the meeting on Tuesday, 13 April. They hailed from Buffalo City, with some coming from the Amathole District Municipality to share their ideas and concerns with the municipality about the lack of services in their areas.

Welcoming guests, the Amathole District Municipality portfolio head for community liaison and participation, Nikelwa Sinuka, said: "This is an annual review for each municipality. We hope today we will find better ways of dealing with the communities' concerns."

Together with Buffalo City, the district municipality would find ways to overcome backlogs from previous years, she said. "We want you to be part of making plans in the budget. Share with us what is needed in your areas so that we know how to allocate funds."

Buffalo City's portfolio head for the IDP and budget, Sindiswa Gomba, also spoke. "The upcoming public meetings will look at issues raised by people in your communities and will be carried out according to the stipulated budget," she said.

She emphasized that the City hoped to work efficiently with its people without disputes and "anyone trying to look down on our efforts".

The municipality began its IDP public hearings on Wednesday, 14 April with a meeting at Gcobani Hall in Cambridge Location. The last public gathering will be at Ilitha Community Hall in Ilitha on Friday, 30 April.

At these hearings, various issues are discussed, including electricity, housing, water supply, roads and service delivery at large. The City also gives residents an opportunity to engage with and give input on the draft IDP and budget.

The department's manager, Simpiwe Seti, explained: "We expect the residents to be part of the process as we seek advice on matters that are priorities to them."

Seti was confident the hearings would be successful since a different approach was being taken this year to previous years. "This year, the City will look at the needs of each ward and not cluster them. This will enable us to easily identify their needs."

This year, each ward will be visited separately and not as a cluster, as has been the case in previous years. The hearings are part of the municipality's public participation process, which allows ordinary citizens to give their input on the IDP for the year. As such, they are a platform to encourage residents to play a major role in becoming authors of their own development.

Hearings will be held at Kidds Beach Hall, Needs Camp Community Hall, Berlin Hall, Sweetwaters Community Hall and KWT War Memorial Hall. The theme of this year's meetings is, "Working together to make a difference in service delivery".