Emfuleni Municipality subpoenad to appear before Gauteng Legislature over service delivery failures

JOHANNESBURG - The Emfuleni Local Municipality has been subpoenaed to appear before the Gauteng legislature for failing to respond to multiple service delivery petitions, some dating back over a decade.

The provincial legislature’s standing committee on petitions met on Thursday to hear eight long-standing petitions from communities across Emfuleni, but only one had received a formal response.

No senior officials from the municipality showed up to account.

The petitions range from broken basic services in Sebokeng and the ongoing struggle for housing and water in Tshepiso, to billing disputes and the hijacking of residential areas, where people have illegally taken over land meant for others.

Another petition centres on the Evaton township mega project, a multi-billion rand development meant to upgrade roads, housing and infrastructure. 

Years later, the project has stalled, with little to show on the ground.

Committee chair, Vuyiswa Jentile, said Emfuleni’s silence is unacceptable and warned that residents should not have to burn tyres to be heard.

"The resolve of our people to barricade the streets during protests should not be the language that is understood by service delivery points before remedial action. All petitions remain open by the committee."

The subpoena means Emfuleni officials will be forced to appear and explain themselves before the committee.

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