Kirkwood, once a thriving and welcoming town, is now plagued by service delivery issues getting residents hot under the collar.
In 2023/24, this town, along with Addo and Paterson in the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality, was named the greenest municipality in the Eastern Cape and awarded a cash prize of R50 000.
Nowadays, Kirkwood is better known for its uncollected refuse, crumbling roads, clogged stormwater systems, overgrown public spaces and damaged infrastructure.
The Municipality’s failure to perform routine maintenance not only affects the town’s appearance, but also has a negative impact on overall morale, public health, and the safety of residents and visitors.
Despite repeated requests from concerned residents and community leaders, there is little to no visible effort from the Municipality’s side to restore the town’s honour.
There is no routine cleaning, repair work or long-term maintenance strategies to speak of.
This constant dereliction of duty undermines public trust, and creates the impression that the administration is indifferent to the needs and rights of the people the Municipality is meant to serve.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) demands that the Municipality:
• Acknowledge the current state of decay in Kirkwood with the necessary transparency and urgency.
• Conduct a comprehensive audit of municipal maintenance backlogs and service delivery failures.
• Implement a visible action plan to address pressing problems and prevent further decay.
The people of Kirkwood deserve to live in a town characterised by civic pride, functionality and dignity.
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