Letter: Funds shortage delays light repairs

THE letter, “Many beach area lights out”, February 2), raises some very valid points which I shall attempt to address.

First, to answer correctly the question posed as to what the Ward 2 councillor had done to alleviate the problem. Contrary to the incorrect assumption that the answer points back to my having done nothing, a quick count of my ward e-mail archive reveals 1 164 individual correspondences dealing with lighting faults related to Ward 2 and excludes innumerable direct calls made to the various responsible departments in this regard.

My investigation further revealed that no e-mail had ever been received from Natalie Alexander regarding the faults reported in the letter published. I encourage the writer to e-mail Anne at the Ward 2 office on ward2@mandelametro.gov.za or to e-mail me directly.

The real issues relating to the massive number of faulty street lights not only in Ward 2, but throughout the entire metro, are raised in her letter. The suggestion that technicians inspect the area every evening is a great idea and in years past, the metro did have officials who drove around the metro at night checking for faults.

Unfortunately this is no longer the case and the metro now relies on the public to report faults.

A significant shortage of electricians currently exists in the metro. These posts are identified on the metro critical vacancy list.

The challenges were exacerbated by the municipality’s decision to cut overtime allowances and scarce skills allowances to balance last year’s budget, which resulted in strike action by these employees late last year.

In the current budget cycle, the ANC-led administration cut R150-million from the infrastructure maintenance budget and, contrary to assurances given of stores bursting with supplies, many faults remain unrepaired due to a lack of spares and fittings.

This can be evidenced by the many street light poles which remain without light fittings.

On the topic of potholes, we have all been impatiently waiting for the city to renew the tender for the supply of hot tar which has had the unfortunate result of severely hampering all pothole repairs in the metro.

Finally, yes, we do blame the governing ANC for service delivery failure in our metro. It has had its hands on the levers in this metro for more than 20 years.

It is inordinately difficult to correct fundamentals in the metro when in opposition. This is why we are so looking forward to a new era after this year’s municipal elections.

The “Schoenies model” works much better when one’s own party is in government.