PETITION TO THE CITY OF EKURHULENI DEMANDING URGENT SEVICE DELIVERY INTERVENTION IN BREDELL, KEMPTON PARK
We, the undersigned residents and property owners of Bredell, Kempton Park, hereby petition the City of Ekurhuleni regarding the continued deterioration of our community and the ongoing collapse of municipal by-law enforcement, infrastructure maintenance, and service delivery in the area.
For years, residents of Bredell have continued to pay municipal rates and taxes while basic municipal functions have deteriorated dramatically. The condition of the area has contributed to declining property values, increased safety risks, environmental degradation, and a significant decline in the quality of life of law-abiding residents.
Residents are particularly concerned about the following:
• Dangerous and deteriorating roads;
• Lack of functioning streetlights in large parts of the area;
• The rapid spread of illegal backyard dwellings and overcrowding;
• The growth of informal settlements;
• Persistent littering and illegal dumping;
• Failure to enforce municipal by-laws;• Increasing crime and safety concerns linked to deteriorating infrastructure and poor lighting;
• The negative impact these issues are having on property values and investment in the area.
Residents believe the City’s ongoing failure to properly maintain infrastructure and enforce municipal by-laws has created serious adverse social and economic conditions in Bredell.
In terms of Section 15 of the Municipal Property Rates Act, municipalities may grant exemptions, reductions, or rebates where areas are negatively affected by serious adverse social or economic conditions.
We therefore call on the City of Ekurhuleni to:
- Urgently implement a coordinated intervention plan for Bredell;
- Repair and restore all non-functional streetlights in the area;
- Upgrade and maintain deteriorating roads;
- Intensify law enforcement and by-law enforcement operations;
- Investigate and act against illegal businesses and unlawful land uses;
- Address illegal dumping and littering hotspots;
- Develop and implement measures to address overcrowding and unlawful backyard dwellings;
- Prevent the further expansion of informal settlements in the area;
- Conduct a full assessment into the impact that municipal deterioration has had on property values in Bredell; and
- Consider implementing rates rebates or relief measures for affected residents in terms of the Municipal Property Rates Act due to the prolonged deterioration of municipal services and infrastructure in the area.
We further request that the City provide residents with:
- clear turnaround times;
- measurable service delivery commitments; and
- regular public progress reports regarding interventions in the area.
Failing a satisfactory response within 14 days, residents reserve the right to escalate the matter through complaints to the Public Protector, NERSA, and any other relevant oversight or regulatory authorities.
Residents of Bredell deserve safe roads, functioning infrastructure, clean surroundings, proper by-law enforcement, and a municipality that protects communities instead of allowing urban decay to worsen unchecked.
Democratic Alliance Ekurhuleni Contact the author of the petition