The Merafong City Local Municipality has inadvertently admitted to the public that they are unable to render basic services to the residents of the Municipality without the active labour participation of the residents.
An official advert issued by the ANC-led Municipality, calls on all residents in Wards 17 and 18 to take part in implementing a service delivery programme, that includes street light maintenance, pothole patching, grass cutting, and clearing of illegal dumping, among other activities.
To call on residents to assist in the physical provision of municipal services, of which they already pay for, is an admission by the Municipality that they have failed in their constitutional obligations of delivering basic services to the residents.
It now seems that the only way forward for the Municipality, is that residents offer their free labour.
This would not be the first time that residents found themselves doing the work themselves. Residents of Merafong, in collaboration with Democratic Alliance councillors have already started fixing their community, by filling in potholes, cutting grass, and cleaning streets. See pictures here, here and here.
The ANC has only woken up now, realising it is an election year, and that they are at great risk of losing power, now that residents have shown the Municipality that they are no longer needed.
The work of Merafong residents is a lesson for all failing Municipalities; should you abandon the residents and leave them with little to no service delivery, they will eventually abandon you and find their own way to make their community better.
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