Residents seek service

Fouzia Van Der Fort|Published 1 year ago

City of Cape Town ombudsman team interns Lwando Magwa, Nosicelo Jordaan, Sinovuyo Kosalini, ombudsman officer Clarissa Williams, intern Caylin Petersen and investigation officer Michelle Cleophas.

Dozens of Mitchell’s Plain residents attended the City of Cape Town’s mobile office and its basket of services at Lentegeur civic centre on Friday May 19.

They were able to ask an array of questions pertaining to service delivery, including account queries, general enquiries and service requests; .

They moved from the City’s customer relations department; to the human resources desk to ask about bursaries, internships and apprenticeships; to the department of economic growth to be informed about ways of increasing the production of goods and services; health assisted with primary health care services; the directorate of safety and security addressed issues of traffic and law enforcement services; and the expanded public works programme (EPWP) desk was at hand to assist with jobseekers and give unemployed youth an opportunity to register on the jobseekers database so that they would be eligible for job opportunities available in their local communities.

The City’s customer relations department’s mobile team assisted residents with logging queries and service requests electronically.

Residents also engaged with the City in a wide range of non-emergency enquiries such as rates, sewage, electricity, water, refuse collections, and all other account enquiries.

Blob The office of the City ombudsman encouraged residents to visit their satellite office at Liberty Promenade Shopping Centre, corner of Morgenster Road and AZ Berman Drive, every Tuesday between 9am and 2pm. They investigate and facilitate the resolution of public complaints against the administration

They investigate matters where the municipality failed to respond to an enquiry, complaint or other correspondence; provided a poor service; disregarded the principles of Batho Pele (people first), resulting in people being sent from pillar to post; did no follow procedures on matters that the office could investigate; and had not acted properly or fairly.

According to their frequently asked questions pamphlet the office acts as a last internal resort and the process is a voluntary option for alternative dispute resolution.

For more information sms 44781 (standard rates apply); or visit www.capetown.gov.za/ombudsmancomplaints.

Pictured right neighbours are Yolanda Goodman and Masnoena Koman, both from Lentegeur, speaking to City of Cape Town human settlement clerk Arnold Leeman. With them are City clerks Andile Ngcukane, Siyondo Ngwane and resident Magreta Koopman, from Montrose Park.