Nokukhanya Mntambo3 February 2024 | 13:37

Some residents from Ext 10 in Palm Ridge worry political fights undercutting service delivery

Several political parties are understood to still be battling it out for a strong hold of the ward because of its infancy.

Some residents from Ext 10 in Palm Ridge worry political fights undercutting service delivery

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JOHANNESBURG - In Extension 9 in Palm Ridge, a fairly new development of tightly packed RDP houses in Alberton, a quick pan of the area gives one some clue of how underdeveloped it really is.

Untarred roads, a shortage of community facilities, clinics and schools, which are also few and far between, and the mushrooming informal settlements nearby are putting further strain on the already constrained resources.

Several political parties are understood to still be battling it out for a strong grip on the ward because of its infancy.

The RDP houses are also, in fact, at the centre of the political tensions in the area.

Some of the residents there say they’re worried that service delivery continues to take a back seat to the ongoing political fights.

Bonginkosi Dlamini, who is 24-years-old and registered for the first time on Saturday, said he hoped his vote would make a difference.

“I want to see infrastructure development in this area. The area is still new, and we need resources. I would be happy to see a mobile clinic in the area.”

Dlamini said he hopes better governance at the national level will trickle down to embattled municipalities.