THABAZIMBIMUNICIPALITY CONTINUES ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES

The municipality has clustered its wards due tothe vastness in jurisdiction. The clustering is made out of (4) four major centres namely, Rooiberg, Rooibokkraal, Regorogile and Northam.

His Worship, Mayor Naledi L Matlou and councillors of ThabazimbiMunicipality embarked on an Outreach Programmes, Izimbizo as from 24 November and will end this year in December the 2ndat the last centre which is Northam RDP Sportsground.

Mayor Matlou is on a mission to consult the communities in all the ten wards. The Izimbizo has its own motto which is “Continuing Our Partnership with Communities” The first two centres visited were that of Rooiberg and Rooibokkraal on the 24th and 25th November respectively.

Most of challenges noted during the first two Izimbizo on the mentioned centres were issues surrounding long distance travelled by learners to schools, unattended gravelled roads, unavailability of cemeteries especially by the people living in farms as the two centres consisted of large farming areas, young parents misusing Child Support Grants for gambling purposes, lack and shortage of mobile clinics to some other parts of Rooibokkraal areas, poor and non existence of network coverage to some parts of the farming areas, ill treatment and unfair labour practices by some farm owners to their workers.

The Mayor also highlighted the Municipal By-Laws to the communities and that drafts will be made available for them to comment, even in their languages, IDP and Budget processes were also mentioned as the most important document that contains all plans that the municipality is rolling out over a period of five years.

The Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan progress was also highlighted by the Mayor to the communities.

Meanwhile the mayor has made a promise that all the challenges highlighted during the Outreach will be monitored and relevant interventions will be made. Those that need referral to other departments will be assisted andfollow ups will be made to that effect.

Mayor Naledi L Matlou takes along councillors and Management from the municipality during all Izimbizos for transparency and accountability by all and practical democracy is seen as a key to community upliftment and transformation.

ByJoshua Motsomane, ThabazimbiLocalMunicipality