Ramaphosa residents demand answers as service delivery frustrations confront Gauteng leaders

Residents of Ramaphosa Informal Settlement used Gauteng’s Imbizo Wednesday to confront provincial and local government leaders over persistent service delivery problems, with unemployment, electricity and safety dominating the engagement.

The community meeting, held in Emfuleni on 9 September, gave residents a direct platform to raise concerns with senior government officials, including Acting Premier Lebohang Maile and local leadership from Emfuleni and Sedibeng.

Beyond basic service delivery, residents also raised fears linked to the area’s dolomitic ground conditions and the possible danger of sinkholes, placing additional pressure on authorities to address both infrastructure and safety concerns.

Maile said government would continue engaging the community and relevant stakeholders.

“Government remains committed to working with the community and all relevant stakeholders to address the challenges raised by residents,” Maile said.

The Imbizo also brought several government departments into the settlement, including Roads and Transport, e-Government, Health, Community Safety and Home Affairs.

Officials said the programme was intended to bring services closer to residents while allowing communities to raise concerns directly with decision-makers.

For residents, however, the key issue now is whether the promises made during the engagement will translate into visible improvements.

The spotlight will remain on government’s response to electricity problems, unemployment, safety concerns and the risks associated with the settlement’s ground conditions.