Fihla focus on U'hage, Despatch

Rochelle de Kock

NELSON Mandela Bay mayor Ben Fihla vowed to focus his attention on improving services to Uitenhage and Despatch, saying a service delivery war room would be established in the area by the end of the month.

Some municipal departments would also be moved to the two towns by the end of next month in a bid to bring services closer to the people.

This comes after a call by Uitenhage and Despatch residents for a sub-council or breakaway municipality because they felt there were only development projects taking place in Port Elizabeth.

At a special council meeting on Friday, Fihla said: "The challenges in Uitenhage and Despatch will continue to be my priority in each council meeting.

"With effect from this month I will spend a week at all my satellite offices because it is clear Uitenhage and Despatch need attention for service delivery.

"We need to create a service delivery war room and we need reports on work taking place in Uitenhage and Despatch at every meeting."

Councillors hailed Fihla's commitment as "inspiring".

COPE caucus leader councillor Khwezi Ntshanyana said: "Everything you [Fihla] said is extremely welcomed, but we need to act [now] because the sooner we act the better.

"It will receive the deepest thanks from the community."

UDM councillor Mongameli Bobani urged Fihla to encourage the debate about a possible sub-council.