Greytown Resident and Ratepayer Association (GRRA) committee members. Back row from left: Mohammed Moola, Martin Platt, Gerrie Germishuizen, Joe Moodley, Joe Maharaj, Rigesh Govender and Nirish Sewpuchan. Front row from left: Khumbulani Vilakazi, Louise Hill, Nolwazi Dlamini, Brian Pillay, Liesel Minnaar and Sajidah Manzoor
Image: Supplied
The Umvoti Chamber of Business believes that the establishment of a new Greytown Resident and Ratepayer Association (GRRA) will enhance communication with the Umvoti Municipality.
Liesel Minnaar, the community liaison officer from the Umvoti Chamber of Business, said Greytown residents decided to establish the association after a recent public meeting at the Greytown Town Hall.
She said the chamber’s role was to help coordinate and organise the logistics, following a request from residents at an earlier public meeting.
Residents nominated 11 people who formed the inaugural committee. A date will be decided upon to elect office bearers and adopt the association's constitution.
Anthony Waldhausen, the CEO of Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers and Civics (MARRC), facilitated the meeting with residents and helped guide the process through a virtual meeting.
Waldhausen focused on the roles and responsibilities of a resident and ratepayer association and stated that MARRC was available to assist with supporting the newly-established GRRA and providing training to committee members and community members.
“There was excitement and enthusiasm from residents who were all committed to ensuring the success of the new association and making it work. The association will also organise a meeting with the mayor and municipal manager of Umvoti Municipality to formally introduce themselves,” Waldhausen said.
Minnaar said the strong turnout and positive engagement were great to see, with residents coming together with a shared interest in strengthening community ties and improving communication with the municipality.
Minnaar said the level of engagement from the community was encouraging. While this remains a community-led initiative, Brian Pillay, a resident, and Minnaar will serve as ex officio members on the ratepayers association committee to offer support and help maintain continuity where needed.
She believes that the ratepayers' association can play an important role in giving the community a constructive voice and working collaboratively towards better service delivery.
She said some of the key challenges residents and businesses continued to face are related to infrastructure like roads, water, and the illegal landfill.
“There is also a clear appetite for more structured platforms where concerns can be raised and addressed. We see initiatives like the formation of a ratepayers' association as a positive and practical step in that direction. We are here to work with the municipality. Transparency and clear, continued communication will go a long way to achieve this,” Minnaar said.