Money will be set aside to start planning for the construction of a clinic in Mandalay during the 2019/2020 financial year.
This was announced last Tuesday by Ward 116 councillor Michael Pat Pietersen during a ward-based community meeting, instituted by Mayor Dan Plato, at Mandalay community hall.
The idea was for residents to raise their concerns at these public meetings, which the mayor would chair with the ward councillor. The mayor, however, was unable to be there and mayoral committee for energy and climate change Phindile Maxiti attended on his behalf.
When residents probed Mr Pietersen for more details on the clinic, he replied that he had not prepared the presentation.
“I also need some time to engage the public participation department on some projects,” he said, adding that he would seek answers from “various departments”.
In response to an enquiry from the Plainsman, Dr Zahid Badroodien, mayoral committee member for community services and health, said the facility’s location and budget to build the clinic had not yet been determined.
“At this stage there is no budget to build the clinic,” he said, adding that the process would take between three to five years.
The presentation also highlighted the reconstruction of certain roads but there were no details regarding which roads, or when the work would happen.
At the time of going to print the City of Cape Town had not responded to to our queries about this.
Some residents welcomed the maintenance done at parks and the erection of CCTV.
But, they were also worried about getting access to the footage and questioned who was responsible for responding when crimes were witnessed.
In response to this, Mr Maxiti said residents were welcome to visit the control room in Goodwood.
Mandalay resident Ntsiki Ndzishe said she had been rather disappointed with the meeting and asked Mr Pietersen what women empowerment and youth skills development programmes were available to residents in the area.
“We have people in the community who can offer and work together with the council on programmes, but we don’t know about these projects,” she said.
Mr Pietersen said the City welcomed collaboration and that “in order to do this there should be common interest to achieve the same or similar outcome”.
“The common interest is identified through engagements with organisations and the collaborations and partnership scope should be agreed on,” he said.
Anyone interested in engaging with the city on youth related matters can call the head of community development for Area East on 021 400 9105 or email anthea.davids-thomas@capetown.gov.za
A Strengthening Families Programme is currently under way within the ward, and ward allocations in the last financial year included a budget for a Women for Change Programme.
Sharon Cottle, mayoral committee member for corporate services, said the City offered various opportunities to the youth and unemployed residents.
“These include bursaries; job shadowing; learnerships and apprenticeships; internships as well as skills development programmes,” she said.
For further information residents can contact the City’s Human Resources Service Desk at 086 010 3089 (option 6) or
hrservicedesk@capetown.gov.za