City of Cape Town says dealing with complex challenges of informality, unlawful occupation
The Public Protector found the City of Cape Town failed vulnerable communities in service delivery, while the metro says the report recognises funding constraints and ongoing efforts to address infrastructure and housing challenges.
The City of Cape Town says it is encouraged that Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has taken into account the difficulty of providing free services without adequate support from the national state.
The Office of the Public Protector released its report into complaints of maladministration and improper prejudice in services rendered to residents of Langa Flats and Khayelitsha Township on Tuesday afternoon.
Gcaleka has found that the City of Cape Town failed some of its most vulnerable communities by failing to provide basic municipal services.
The report also found that the city failed to sign lease agreements with all the residents of Langa Flats.
Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, says the metro is already taking the necessary steps to address the complex challenges of informality and unlawful occupation.
“ We further confirm that basic services are indeed provided on schedule at the N2 Gateway development, that the security measures are in place at the clinics, and that the ten families that have been relocated as a result of a sewer collapse in Khayelitsha receive basic services.”
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Gcaleka recommended that within six months of receipt of the report, the Minister of Finance engage with the Minister for Human Settlements, the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the provincial government of the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town to assess whether the existing intergovernmental fiscal framework, equitable share allocations and other funding mechanisms adequately support municipalities experiencing significant infrastructure backlogs, extensive informal settlements and increasing service delivery demands.
"In conducting the assessment, to consider the extent to which existing fiscal allocations and funding mechanisms enable municipalities to progressively realise the constitutional rights of residents to access basic municipal services, taking into account the competing demands on the national fiscals and the need to balance the equitable distribution of nationally raised revenue among the three spheres of government."
She also recommended that a report be submitted to her office on the outcome of the assessment.
"In light of the findings and observations contained, I am of the view that the Minister of Human Settlements should take cognisance of these issues, particularly insofar as they relate to intergovernmental coordination, planning alignment, and the effective delivery of human settlements within the framework of cooperative governance."
