Newsletter 74- Dissatisfaction with service delivery recipe for unrest - 4 June 2010
A survey conducted earlier this year shows that more than half of residents are unhappy with the service delivery they receive from their local municipality. The residents also report that they wait too long for basic services.
A survey conducted in February 2010 by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Research in the Gauteng, Durban, Cape Town, Eastern Cape, and Bloemfontein areas showed that residents were unhappy with services provided by their local authorities.
In a similar survey conducted by TNS in 2007, the level of service delivery dissatisfaction was 27%. This increased to 52% in 2010. In this latter year 51% of residents also said they had been waiting too long for basic services from their local municipality.
A regional breakdown shows that 56% of Gauteng residents were unhappy with service delivery. This is followed by Durban and the Eastern Cape, both at 52%. In Cape Town and Bloemfontein the level of unhappiness with service delivery was 42% and 40% respectively.
In addition, 57% of Gauteng residents said they had waited too long for basic services. This was followed by Durban with 49%. In the Eastern Cape and Cape Town, 48% and 41% of residents respectively said they had waited too long for basic services. In Bloemfontein 30% of residents said they had waited too long for basic services.
The survey also showed that the unhappiest residents were Africans at 54%. Also, 58% of Africans said they have been waiting too long for services.
In terms of socio-economic standing, 80% of poor people said they were unhappy with service delivery while 49% of rich people were unhappy.
To have more than half the population dissatisfied with service delivery after 16 years of democracy is a cause for concern. If this dissatisfaction is not speedily addressed, it is probable that mounting frustration will result in increased service delivery protests.
-Nachi Majoe
by
nmajoe
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last modified
2010-06-04 09:58
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