Oudtshoorn municipality works with local community to fix streetlights and make streets safer
Originally published on 28 August 2024
Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape made big moves to improve safety and services with the “Fix Our Streetlights" campaign. This plan showed how good local government leadership and community help can make a difference.
What was the problem?
Many streetlights in Oudtshoorn were broken, which made the streets unsafe and could lead to more crime. The lack of proper lighting worried people, affecting both those walking around the area and the overall feeling of safety.
How did they solve it?
Fixing the problem of broken streetlights is the municipality’s responsibility, so Executive Mayor Johan Allers and the Government of Local Unity led a campaign to fix these issues. The plan focused on public safety by making sure all streetlights worked, which improved the safety and well-being of everyone.
So how did they do it?
- The campaign got the community involved by letting people report broken streetlights through a special phone line or the municipal Collab Citizen App.
- A quick-response team was set up to fix problems fast, showing the municipality's commitment to public service.
- The plan highlighted the importance of working together, asking the community to help create a safer, well-lit environment.
With this campaign, Oudtshoorn showed that making streets safer and improving services was not just a dream but a real goal that could be reached by working together.
Acknowledgements:
Original article written by: Satori News
Photograph supplied by: www.ledrite.com
Get your community involved
Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.
Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.
Know your rights – how local government works
It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.
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