Service Delivery in Port Shepstone and surrounding areas

**We, the undersigned members of ONE VOICE PUBLIC POWER, hereby submit this petition to the Ray
Nkonyeni Municipality regarding ongoing service delivery failures, and call for urgent, coordinated, and
sustainable responses to the basic needs of our community.**
Our concerns are grounded in the **constitutional obligations** of local government to ensure access to basic
services, the promotion of a safe and healthy environment, and the progressive realization of fundamental
rights enshrined in the **Constitution of the Republic of South Africa**, including:
* **Section 12:** The right to freedom and security of the person;
* **Section 24:** The right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being;
* **Section 27:** The right to health care, food, water, and social security.
KEY ISSUES:
1. **Frequent and prolonged interruptions of basic services** (water, sanitation, waste removal, etc.) due to
poor maintenance, ineffective planning, and lack of accountability.
2. **Inadequate coordination between municipal, provincial, and national government structures**, resulting in
fragmented service delivery and inefficiencies.
3. **Absence of responsive and inclusive platforms** where vulnerable groups—such as pensioners, people
with disabilities, the sick, and elderly—can voice their needs.
4. **Delays and lack of responsiveness** in existing structures such as Ratepayers Forums and Community
Safety Committees, which are often inaccessible to marginalized groups.
OUR REQUEST/DEMAND:
We call on the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality to:
1. **Urgently develop and implement an integrated service delivery plan at community level** that ensures
coordination between local, provincial, and national departments at the community level.
2. **Improve response times and accountability** for the maintenance of essential services, and publish clear
timelines for resolution of service disruptions.
3. **Establish a direct, inclusive "Community Voice Platform"** that is accessible to all residents, especially
vulnerable groups, for reporting and resolving community issues.
4. **Conduct regular community outreach and service delivery audits** to ensure transparency and
responsiveness.
5. **Ensure that local planning processes are participatory**, particularly involving those most affected by poor
service delivery.
### **RATIONALE:**
These demands are not only reasonable but essential to uphold the dignity, health, and safety of our residents.
Current shortcomings disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in our community, who are unable to
navigate complex bureaucratic structures due to age, disability, illness, or lack of resources. An integrated,
people-centered approach is urgently required.
We all desire A Place Called ,"Home Sweet Home," in our Beautiful Land, South Africa.
Every Citizen of South Africa should enjoy:
Love
Care
Respect
Dignity
We urge the municipality to treat this petition as a priority and request a formal written response and
community engagement session.
Sincerely,
On behalf of Concerned Citizens
ONE VOICE PUBLIC POWER COMMUNITY

One Voice Public Power    Contact the author of the petition