Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Werner Pretorius.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality calls on the acting Municipal Manager (MM) and acting HOD: Engineering to take urgent steps to protect the lives and property of the community, following the collapse of a part of the roof of the stormwater canal in Dan Pienaar, Bloemfontein.
The collapse of the roof has created a sinkhole on a rugby field of Sentraal High School. The DA is concerned about possible further caving in of the stormwater canal which could lead to the stormwater canal being blocked, potentially causing damage to property and risking the lives of residents.
The DA inspected the sinkhole on 28 February 2023 after being alerted by the school. Since bringing the matter to the attention of the acting MM and the Acting Engineering HOD, the response has been slow. During the heavy rains, we inspected the sinkhole again and found sections of the wall further caving in.
The municipality must act urgently to protect lives, livelihoods and property.
We call for an engineering report to be produced confirming that the entire roof of the stormwater canal has been inspected and found to be safe. The DA will be writing to the Free State Premier and the MEC: Corporate Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements to intervene in the matter due to the slow response from the municipality.
Maintenance and upgrades to the stormwater systems have been neglected for years by the ANC-led municipality. The neglect not only results in sporadic flooding in many areas but also further damages road infrastructure. The DA will continue to pressure the municipality to properly plan, budget and execute regular maintenance on critical infrastructure. The residents of Mangaung deserve a caring and responsive government which puts the lives and livelihoods of residents first.