RIVERSDAL NUUS - Road erosion and the decay of infrastructure, the high and unaffordable cost of municipal services, the availability of electricity, law enforcement and water supply are the five biggest challenges residents of Hessequa highlighted in a survey focusing on the "State of Garden Route and Hessequa Cities and Towns."
Dr Dennis Farrell of the Business Café in George recently initiated this survey. A total of 277 residents from Hessequa took part in the survey (with 980 respondents from the Garden Route).
"Significantly, almost all of the respondents have lived in Hessequa for more than 10 years," said Farrell.
"Although these (surveys) are low response percentages - the trend is the same as that of the larger response cities," he says.
"I wish to emphasise that the survey should not be seen as an attack on any political party or municipality, but rather to help gauge the perceptions of residents and to work together to become part of the solution to reverse the perceived decay."
Inadequate leadership
Respondents indicated that 44% of political leadership (mayor and council) and 39% of municipal management were rated as being inadequate to provide sustainable services to residents.
On the political front, participants seem to be losing confidence in political parties and the political system as a whole. About 43% of the respondents indicated that they would not vote for the same party in the 2024 national and provincial elections, while 13% were not sure of voting for the same party.
Regarding the 2026 municipal election, about 40% said they would not vote for the same party, while about 17% were not sure.
Asked if residents would re-appoint the municipal administrative leadership and management, 55% said they would replace the leadership.
Finances
The net income of 70% of the respondents is less than R25 000 per month. About 46% said their municipal rates account constitutes between 11% and 20% of their net income while 30% said their municipal rates account made up between 21% to above 36% of their net salary.
Concern about the unaffordable high cost of municipal services was again expressed.
Farrell said the financial position of residents as well as the municipality is at risk. "It could be that the socio-economic status of Hessequa has not been representatively determined during Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget processes."
90% of the respondents indicated that deteriorating roads and related infrastructure must be seen as a combination of socio-economic deterioration: 84% loitering and homeless people; 74% criminal activity and 85% social ills.
"Apathy of 47% for both political and municipal leadership is not conducive in addressing the deterioration," Farrell commented.
Respondents reacted as follows on the service delivery decline over the past three years: 54% for water quality; 53% for electricity and 50% on law enforcement.
Farrell said law enforcement will be critical in ensuring containment and hence this needs urgent attention. The survey also indicated that 56% do not have access to alternative energy supply and 70% do not have access to alternative water supply. "Related criminal activity due to insufficient electricity supply and potential water born illnesses does necessitate attention to water quality and provision."
The five biggest problems and challenges respondents indicated that require the municipality to address were road erosion (76%), high and unaffordable costs of municipal services (74%), electricity availability (54%), law enforcement (50%), and water supply (33%).
"Municipal leaders can shy away from these survey results or go into denial. Alternatively, they can acknowledge and embrace the views of the residents," Farrell said.
"Residents, on the other hand, could revolt in several ways out of frustration but this could lead to further polarisation between officials, politicians and the citizenry.
"The people who participated in the survey are passionate about the Garden Route and Hessequa and don't want to experience further levels of decay. The way forward lies in building trust, respecting all viewpoints, and finding solution-driven ways to collaborate," Farrell concluded.
Hessequa Municipality commented as follows:
"Hessequa Municipality took note of the study and will engage with the findings. It is important to acknowledge the effort it took to engage with the residents of Hessequa Municipality. These types of studies are critical for reflection on the outcomes of the IDP and Budget engagements. The Municipal Manager will reach out to the author on the study findings."
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