Businesses and residents in Constitution Road, Kariega, continue to grapple with persistent service delivery failures, ranging from blocked sewage drains and unfilled trenches to non-functioning streetlights and sewage overflow.
Despite repeated complaints allegedly made to the municipality, which they claim date back to 2021, little to no progress has been made in addressing these critical issues, which are not only affecting daily operations but are also posing significant health and safety risks.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the municipality’s capacity to manage these challenges, with reports suggesting a severe shortage of plumbers and essential equipment. Amid conflicting claims about budget allocations and ward councillor resources, local stakeholders are demanding clarity and urgent intervention to restore basic services in the area.
Local property owner, André Oosthuizen, said, “This street has seen better days. I have been a part of this community for approximately 40 years, and it has never looked this bad. It is sad to say, but I won’t see a change in my lifetime.”
- The other half of Constitution Road is home to many manufacturers, and Oosthuizen added, “It is tough for us business people. We have water flooding the street often because of the blocked stormwater drains, and as a result, no one would want to bring stinks and is unhygienic. As property owners, tenants are complaining to me about the smell and how this street looks, saying that they will stop renting here. I would be losing money if that were to happen.
“We also cannot sell our properties here because no one will want to buy property in an area like this,” he said.
He added that when you pay rates and taxes, it is expected that the municipality will address complaints like these.
“It is unfair for business owners to have to repair roads, clean up in front of their shops, and pay rates and taxes when service delivery is the way it is. We cannot afford to keep doing so,” he added.
“I always make this analogy. In 1994, we gave the government a brand-new Mercedes in running condition, but they could not maintain it. They could not spend the money wisely. Comparing the Garden Town from then to what it is now is unbelievable. There is enough money, but the money is not managed correctly,” he added.
Speaking to UD Express, Ward 48 Councillor Franay van der Linde said, “It is sad to see our town going backwards like this. We have made the municipality aware of these issues numerous times, and yet nothing has been done.”
She added that some officials in the municipality want to work with the Councillor in addressing the woes of Kariega residents; however, the municipality’s budget is so cash-strapped to the point that they cannot address all the issues of Kariega.
“We have been blaming officials for not doing their work when we know that it is not all their fault. Although the community looks at us as councillors, we are dependent on officials to assist us in getting things done,” Van der Linde said.
She added that it is concerning and unacceptable that only two plumbers working for the municipality are tasked with addressing the huge volume of water issues in the whole Kariega, KwaNobuhle and Despatch area.
In response to these claims, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s spokesperson, Sithembiso Soyaya, said, “The issue of blocked sewerage drains in Constitution Road has been noted. Our records indicate that while some maintenance has been conducted in the area, persistent blockages may be due to illegal dumping and ageing infrastructure.”
He added that the municipality is aware of the urgency of dealing with sewage overflows and how it impacts residents and business owners. The municipality will be dispatching teams to assess the situation and ensure that immediate interventions such as clearing blocked drains will be done.
“The holes in Constitution Road were dug as part of the planned infrastructure upgrades; however, unforeseen delays in contractor schedules and budget constraints have affected the refilling process,” said Soyaya.
Regarding the municipal plumbing capacity, “The municipality employs a limited number of plumbers for the Kariega area. While we acknowledge the challenges posed by workforce constraints, efforts are being made to increase capacity through better operational planning and outsourcing where necessary.”
He added that the municipality is aware of the non-functional streetlights in Constitution Road and stated that they are working on improving service efficiency through equipment procurement and better logistical planning.
Soyaya further explained that after the municipal budget for the new financial year was finalised on January 31, specific allocations for service delivery in Kariega and around the entire Metro, including streetlight repairs, are currently being processed.
In closing, he said, “A comprehensive service delivery plan is being developed to address these recurring issues.”
