- Kenilworth residents are voicing frustration over delays in municipal services, including uncollected refuse and unresolved potholes.
- They’ve reported challenges with the City’s service app and have taken matters into their own hands by pooling resources to address the issues.
- While the City promises improvements, residents are calling for greater accountability and transparency.
Residents of Kenilworth have voiced concerns over delayed municipal service delivery, citing uncollected refuse, neglected sidewalks, and other unresolved issues despite repeated reports to the City of Cape Town.
An email from a resident Colleen Lowry to the municipality dated Wednesday 20 November highlighted specific complaints, including an uncollected carpet left on the pavement for weeks and unaddressed potholes.
“We are reporting these issues through the proper channels, but the responses are delayed or non-existent,” Lowry wrote.
App issues
Residents have reported difficulties using the City’s municipal service app.
According to fellow resident Shirley Jenner, the app has been ineffective in addressing urgent issues.
In an email response, Ward 58 councillor John Smith acknowledged the app’s limitations, citing backlogs and resource constraints.
“The City is aware of the delays and is working on optimising the system to improve response times,” he stated.
Despite these assurances, many residents feel the current system lacks efficiency and transparency.
“We expected the app to be a reliable tool, but it has not met our expectations,” Jenner noted.
With unresolved issues piling up, residents have begun taking matters into their own hands. Local efforts include pooling resources to repair potholes and clean neglected public spaces.
Accountability
While residents emphasise that these are temporary solutions, they also call for greater municipal accountability. “We understand there are challenges, but basic service delivery is a fundamental expectation for ratepayers,” Lowry said.
Smith outlined the City’s ongoing efforts to address resource limitations but acknowledged that the backlog remains significant. “We encourage residents to continue using the app while we work on enhancements to make the process more efficient,” he stated.
Urban governance expert Dr Lwazi Mthembu noted in an interview that such challenges reflect broader systemic issues. “Service delivery problems and ineffective digital platforms erode trust in local government, making community engagement and transparent communication critical,” Mthembu explained.
Kenilworth residents urge the City to implement practical solutions for service delivery and digital platform inefficiencies. Their initiatives showcase resilience and a commitment to improving their neighbourhood.
