Disgruntled locals took to the streets on Friday (13 October) with complaints about a range of services in and around Atlantis.
Allison Samantha Adams, convenor of the peaceful protest, said the issues are not straightforward and involve several municipal departments.
For this reason the group expects the sub council-manager and the sub council chairperson together with any other key role-players, to engage with them.
The marchers proposed that a full indaba be scheduled from grievances to be aired, so that with officials a strategy plan can be arrived at within three weeks.
“The difference in this march versus any other march,” Adams pointed out, “is that we do not just hand a list of demands over and then wait for feedback in writing. We are actually looking for action, for change and are planning to update the public around this matters continuously.”
The marchers’ list of demands include:
. A review of the electricity-tariff policy. They are calling on the Mayor to remove the value of properties and also the 12-month waiting period from the determining clause on which tariff bracket the resident falls under. “We are also asking the City of Cape Town to look into the process of application for indigent grants because they’re very big delay in feedback for some of the vulnerable citizens.”
. The group is also unhappy with the application process for assistance because “currently it is all manual in a system where a lot of the verification could be done electronically. As a result, vulnerable citizens are made to walk back and forth, which should not be necessary to begin with.”
. The group also demands a new hospital for Atlantis. “The same hospital that has been in the planning for more than 40 years. Recently we noted the MEC for Health and Wellness stated in a feedback session at provincial legislature that the community of Atlantis would not benefit from a new hospital. We find this unacceptable, especially considering the MEC is using the primary health-care clinics (which we, the community had to fight for), as an excuse not to give us the hospital. The clinics were never meant to replace the functions of a hospital. The comprehensive primary health-care clinics will merely address the long queues that we find at the hospital and to deal with patients and health queries that were never supposed to be dealt with by the hospital in the first place.”
. Marchers urge that the whole MyCiti services be reviewed. “We do not have enough buses to transport our communities. This, of course, results in buses being overloaded to the point that commuters are left standing in emergency exits, which adds to safety hazards.”
. Assistance for informal traders is also on the list. “We are asking for more active intervention and encouragement of informal trading in Atlantis. This especially when informal traders try and set up in a space on which to trade, to be told the spot they choose is illegal. We are asking that a procedure be put in place and guidelines be provided on where they can set up and how to obtain the necessary permits to do so as well as where to go for assistance with these applications.”
. Upgrades for local sports facilities were among the complaints. “Our sports facilities need some serious upgrading, maintenance and the safety issues need addressing as well.
All this, teamed with ongoing communication and points for discussion.
The group is taking up other issues as well. At the beginning of this year a detailed petition was handed over detailing the situation at the Silverstream resorts, on which feedback has yet to be received. “We are expecting that this matter along with others be dealt with as a matter of urgency, before the year-end camping season kicks off.”
. Matters in the central area of town were also on the group’s list: “We need clarity and clarity around the ownership, roles and responsibilities where the Atlantis CBD is concerned. This is important especially where laws, bylaws, public safety, public liability and standards (quality and cost) are concerned.
“The access to halls is a major concern as arts-and-culture, fitness nd youth groups play a vital role in our community, and so access to recreational facilities is important.
“The local rent office must urgently be addressed to allow for private consultations with members of the community,” the list of demands stated. “Currently, residents are made to speak through a glass panel, whereby everyone around them can hear their personal and private details. This directly breaches the POPIA regulations.”
Lastly, the group has asked the subcouncil to live-stream its council meetings for they are public event and “not everyone is able to leave work to attend these meetings.”
Despite their differences in political affiliation the group said they were standing together and waiting for the City of Cape Town to respond.
