During Mafube Local Municipality's Annual Budget Meeting held on 31 May, it was admitted that mistakes were made with the implementation of the unpopular Prepaid Water Meter Project and the new Municipal Manager Mr. Josie Ralebenya,assured the meeting that the project would be re-evaluated, and proper public participation processes would be followed in future.
It now appears that Mafube isreneging on that promise and are once again forging aheadin the same fashion as before, with no consideration given to repeated requests for the municipality to give proper notice of these"public awareness meetings". Already in both Tweeling and Villiers, notices were issued for meetings of which the datessubsequently had to be changed due to poor planning and lack of basic communication skills.
MBF were shocked to hear how workers from the municipality on Thursday, August 5, harassed elderly residents at the community hall of Villiers, where they were queuing for COVID-19 vaccinations. Mafube workers apparently acted threateningly and demanded that receipt be signed for notices handed out to the elderly, for a public meeting to be held on Monday 9 August The meeting was subsequently cancelled when it was realisedthat it would fall on Women's Day, a public holiday!
MBF remain of the view that the municipality's prepaid water meter project is ill-advised and poorly executed, and have expressed our disquiet on many occasions.It is regrettable that Mafube chose to ignore our concerns and continue to alienate the community.
It must be stressed that MBF are not opposed to change or improvement, but we remain concerned about priorities set by Mafube which may not reflect the real needs or problems in the municipal areas.
We invite Mafube residents, business people and ratepayers to contact us. Visit our offices at 18A Church Street during our business hours, on Mondays to Thursdays from 08h30 to 12h30, and Fridays from 08h30 to 12h30 or contact Marina on WhatsApp at 079 145 4295. Or send an email to info@mafubebf.org
