KNYSNA NEWS - During his oversight visit to Knysna to assess the state of service delivery in Knysna, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde made stops at various hotspots, including Hornlee and Leisure Isle.
He held meetings with the communities to give them a platform to share their challenges and concerns regarding service delivery, which will aid government in drawing up a plan to address the problems in a sustainable way.
Cearn Hall
On Saturday 24 February, the Cearn Hall on Leisure Isle was abuzz with activity as a large number of concerned residents gathered for the highly anticipated public meeting with the Premier and DA Provincial Leader Tertius Simmers.
Winde addressed the challenges Knysna currently faces, many of which are well known to the public. He emphasised the need for action and urged residents to call for the intervention of the President to place Knysna under administration.
Attendees were encouraged to provide feedback on what the province can do to assist in addressing these challenges.
Winde discussed previous interventions made by the district and the province, such as waste management initiatives and the cleaning of the reservoir where a body was found last year.
The larger picture
Simmers also provided feedback, shedding light on the larger, widespread governance issues faced by the Western Cape.
Financial challenges and the collapse of service delivery were among the key concerns highlighted, showing that the need for comprehensive and sustainable solutions extend beyond Knysna.
During a question and answer session the primary question asked centred around whether Knysna would be placed under administration and what additional interventions could be implemented to address the town's challenges.
Winde informed them that a full report on the diagnostic of Knysna's issues and plans to potentially alleviate these issues will be presented during a council meeting scheduled for Tuesday 27 February.
Winde engaged with residents of Hornlee in a friendly game of football during his visit.
The report will provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced by the town and outline strategies for moving forward.
Water in Hornlee
On Sunday 25 February Winde and Simmers visited the community of Hornlee, where a lack of water supply has been a major concern for some time.
Preceding the visit, a generous donation of a large number of bottled water was distributed to the households in need.
A large part of the community has been without a reliable water supply, while another group has been experiencing discoloured water, causing significant inconvenience. He conducted a walkabout of the area, interacting with council members and residents.
Residents also had the opportunity to voice their concerns and growing frustration at a meeting with the two, which was held at the AFM Koinonia Church Hall in Davidson Street.
Winde assured them that the government is actively working to resolve the situation and outlined its aims to improve service delivery.
The residents in turn expressed their desperation and disappointment and made it clear that there is an urgent need for action on the part of local governance to ensure that basic services, such as water, are provided to everybody.
After the meeting residents were relieved that their concerns have been heard and are anticipating a significant improvement in their water supply.
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