Is this the official response to residents’ concerns and demands?

An official response of the Makhado Municipality to the letter of the Soutpansberg Dorpswag, delivered by hand on July 10, has long been awaited. The letter covered the deterioration of service delivery and demanded action.

An undated, unsigned media release received by hand at the office of the Zoutpansberger on August 14 states: “With reference to the communiqué received from unknown author regarding unacceptable service delivery in Makhado Town coupled with demands listed in the letter. It will be quite critical to indicate that all issues has to be formal so that we can be able to be clear as to who are we responding to. In nutshell the documents in question has no author and as such that leads much to be desired.”

The letter came from the office of Mr Peter Muleya, public relations officer of the Makhado Municipality and said “Issued by Makhado Municipality”.

The handing over of the letter by Dr Phillip Venter to Messrs Peter Magwala, Director: Community Services and Mr Lampie Schoeman, Manager Makhado Region was reported in the Zoutpansberger of July 14 as well as in the Mirror.

“The municipality will issue a press release on the matter in time for next week’s publication, the public relations officer, Mr Peter Muleya, said late Tuesday night,” was stated.

A written request by the Zoutpansberger for an official response, dated July 18, was ignored, as well as several verbal requests. Another written request containing all the issues awaiting answers was delivered on August 11 to five municipal offices, including the offices of the mayor and the municipal manager. The letter stated clearly the need for “Council’s response to the letter of the Soutpansberg Dorpswag, dated July 10” and asked for a response before noon on Monday, 14 August.

Copies of the Dorpswag letter were made by Mr Magwala on receiving the letter and the letter was filed in the office of the secretary of the municipal manager. Despite the fact that copies of the letter were available at the municipality, the PRO, Mr Muleya, requested the Zoutpansberger to fax him the letter again. An available draft copy was faxed.

In the meantime, Dr Philip Venter has met with Messrs Magwala and Schoeman, but the promised official statement following that meeting has to date not been received. Or was the response quoted above meant to be that?