Some residents of Kimberley's Madiba Square informal settlement are skeptical whether the new Northern Cape government executive council will tackle the serious service delivery challenges they face.
Northern Cape Premier Zamani Sole is set to announce and convene the province's executive council on Tuesday after being re-elected.
Residents are said to be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the seventh Executive Council. Service delivery challenges facing residents include sewage leaks, illegal dumping sites, lack of water and sanitation, and housing issues.
“We are singing what is becoming a chorus, a song we are familiar with as promised, but nothing is happening,” resident Edwin Tsiolo said.
“We want the new government to address our housing and toilet needs,” said Dipuo Pakati, another resident.
“There's a lot of crime, you can't use flashlights, it's dark, if you get robbed you can't be seen,” said concerned resident Stephen Oliphant.
At the first meeting of the seventh government, the ANC voted alongside the Patriotic Union and the FF+, but it is not yet clear who will sit on the new executive council, although there will surely be some new faces.
“Some of his former MECs and MPLs have been brought back but they have not proven to have delivered outstanding results,” said socio-economic change activist William Steenkamp.
Following his re-election, Premier Saul said the state government is ready to serve its residents.
“One of the serious challenges we face is the deterioration of socio-economic infrastructure, especially water and sanitation.”
The provincial assembly was left in limbo after the general election, and Sole, who is also the provincial ANC chairperson, said he would analyse the party's performance and identify where mistakes had been made.
VIDEO: State Legislature in session – Saul announces executive committee on Tuesday
