Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Riette Dell.
Community outrage has erupted in Setsoto as the local municipality continues to endorse the outdated bucket toilet system. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is appalled by the municipality’s stance, highlighted when they shared images of a bucket team in Clocolan on their social media platforms. This move sparked widespread community dismay, revealing the extent of the issue. Please see pictures here, here and here.
While attempts were made to rationalize the persistence of the bucket system by attributing it to land invasions, the DA contends that this justification is completely unacceptable. Contrary to this claim, areas such as Sunflowerpark, Dipotomameng, Matikareng, and Thethe are established settlements, not informal ones.
The parliamentary oversight committee on Water and Sanitation conducted an inspection of the Bucket Eradication Programme’s implementation in Setsoto on 29-31 March 2023. This action was prompted by the alarming fact that the municipality harbours the highest number of outstanding bucket toilets in the country. During this inspection, a troubling revelation came to light: the Free State Department of Water and Sanitation had undertaken no feasibility studies prior to embarking on the eradication projects. This lack of foresight has led to serious complications involving issues like underground water sources and rock layers.
Critical infrastructure, including sewer lines, outfalls, rising mains, and pump stations, were not adequately incorporated into the projects, rendering the connection of new toilets to the sewer lines unfeasible. This oversight has caused some community members to possess flushing toilets that are not linked to the broader system, resulting in sewage flowing into open pipes near residences. Adding to the dire situation is the deplorable state of the Ficksburg Waste Water Treatment Plant, which has been vandalized and requires a staggering R200 million for reconstruction. Raw sewage from Ficksburg and Meqheleng has been contaminating the Caledon River for nearly five years.
Further exacerbating the issue is the mismanagement of projects by appointed contractors who have failed to complete their work despite receiving payment. For instance, G5 was paid 18% in Senekal, but there has been negligible progress on their project according to official records.
The blatant neglect of infrastructure and the alarming practice of engaging unskilled and uncommitted contractors, often linked to corrupt practices, have pushed Setsoto into a perilous situation where public health and the environment are under severe threat. Regrettably, the oversight committee has expressed scepticism about the municipality’s ability to meet its target date for eradicating bucket toilets. Additionally, the department cited a shooting incident involving a contractor’s project manager as a reason for delays in Clocolan.
In response, the DA is vehemently demanding the eradication of the bucket system and thorough investigations into pre-payment to contractors prior to project completion and the lack of proper project monitoring mechanisms. The community of Setsoto deserves transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery, and the DA is committed to ensuring these rights are upheld.