The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality smashed several service delivery targets according to the mid-term budget and performance report, but Executive Mayor Benson Fihla cautioned that they should also be mindful of waste management challenges experienced in township areas.

“While there has been a welcome improvement in a number of areas (particularly service delivery), I am concerned about refuse collection in most of our townships as the desired improvements are not visible,” Mayor Fihla said.

Some of the key service delivery highlights recorded from 1 July to 31 December 2014 – the first half of the 2014/2015 financial year – includes the following:

• A total of 746 state subsidised housing units were built completely demolishing the target of 335
• A total of 1 509 erven provided with permanent water and sanitation against a target of 1 500
• The target to rectify 52 state subsidised houses was well improved upon as 1 238 RDP houses were rectified
• Continued provision of drinkable water supply to 100% of households within the urban edge (within a 200 m radius)
• Continued provision of electricity to 100% of households on officially surveyed sites
• Exceeded the target of electricity provision to 1 100 new erven (low-cost housing) by actually electrifying 1 189 new low-cost housing erven
• Provided career development opportunities for 44 unemployed graduates

“Our reflections on current and past performances in service delivery by this institution indicate that considerable progress has been achieved, but also that a number of challenges still remain in realising our mandate of ensuring a better quality of life for residents of Nelson Mandela Bay.

“We remain committed to this ideal,” Fihla concluded.

The municipal financial year for 2014/2015 started on 1 July 2014 and ends on 30 June 2015.