Neglected Communities and Service Delivery
Zulu Masethela
In Hoepakaantz village, it seems our government has forgotten about some of our most vulnerable communities. Many believed that with our own black leaders in power, things would improve compared to the apartheid system, but so far, we have seen little change.
Imagine having no access to primary healthcare because there is no proper road. Consider the rainy season when the matric class is writing their crucial exams, and the Department of Education vehicle gets stuck in muddy, slippery conditions, with no network coverage to call for help. Sometimes it feels as though this community is not part of the country.
The only solution to these challenges is the construction of a proper access road. Once we have that, everything else will fall into place.
Some community members have reached out to the media in an effort to bring attention to our situation and urge other stakeholders to intervene. They did this because we have hosted several government officials in the past, including:
- The former MEC of Health and Social Development.
- The former MEC of Roads and Transport.
- The former MEC of Social Development.
- Two former Mayors during government-scheduled initiatives.
In an interview with Mr. X, one of the shop owners, he mentioned that the lack of an access road makes it difficult to restock their businesses, forcing them to sell products at inflated prices.
I also spoke with a recently graduated learner, Winny Makoela, who expressed concern about missing many school periods on rainy days, especially Mondays, because teachers cannot arrive on time.
The solution to our problems lies in either engaging the private sector or continuously bringing media attention to the government’s shortcomings.
