MUNICIPAL SERVICES: USEFUL INFORMATION - STAYING INFORMED

Tip 1: Important Detail to Know

Start by finding out the ward number of the area and then establish who the elected councillor is for the ward. For instance Silver Lakes and surrounding areas falls within City of Tshwane's Ward 101 and the current ward councillor is Mike Strange.

Tip 2: Using Social Media

Social media groups and pages provide a wealth of information. Most municipalities have social media accounts that are regularly kept up to date, providing information on the status of faults and problems effecting particular suburbs or regions. For Tshwane residents, the Tshwane Municipality has active social media accounts on both Facebook and Twitter, and regularly share updates including information concerning water and electricity outages.

There are several general and specific community Facebook groups run by volunteers which provide information on a host of issues and allow posting of queries and comments thus allowing for interaction and feedback from other residents.

Tip 3: Advisories from Governing Bodies

If a property is located in a gated community, the body corporate or homeowners association is responsible for keeping residents updated on any service issues through SMS or email. If the community has a 24-hour security control room, then security is generally a good source of information particularly over weekends and after hours. 

Tip 4: WhatsApp Groups

WhatsApp groups for neighbourhoods and streets are also a fount of knowledge. Group members are often the first to notify other residents of outages and problems. Make enquiries and find out what WhatsApp groups are available in the area. Remember to custom message tone notifications to silent otherwise a very active group can become more of a nuisance than a help. 

Technology and in particular social media is allowing for pertinent information to be available to residents ensuring that residents are kept informed of any municipal issues and outages.