Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Linda Day and Sesotho by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
Nine days have passed, and the heart of business in Metsimaholo, specifically Naledi, remains in the grip of a power outage due to a cable and switchgear fault. Despite persistent efforts and engagement by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with various authorities, ranging from Supervisors to Directors and culminating with the Acting Municipal Manager, the community is left in the dark with no concrete information on the progress or a timeline for resolving this critical issue.
The business centre in Naledi has endured almost nine days without power, resulting in severe disruptions to the day-to-day operations of all businesses within the vicinity. The financial toll on these enterprises has been substantial, underlining the consequences of the current maladministration and apparent negligence within Metsimaholo Local Municipality.
This prolonged power outage comes at a time when the primary focus should be on efficient service delivery. However, the municipal administration appears to be embroiled in a chaotic situation, with disputes over positions and appointments taking precedence over addressing urgent issues. This upheaval follows the ousting of the DA Mayor of Metsimaholo, Cllr Jeff Zwane, and his committee during a council sitting.
During the tenure of the DA minority government, the commitment to resolving cable and switchgear faults was exemplified by an impressive 12-hour turnaround time. We took pride in our efficient response, consistently updating the community through social media channels to ensure real-time progress reports reached those affected promptly.
Regrettably, under the current leadership of Mayor Jack Malindi, representing the AIC, along with a Mayoral committee comprising members from ANC, EFF, MCA, and ATM, Metsimaholo has experienced a significant decline in responsiveness. The new appointees are grappling with the demands of their positions, leaving the community at a disadvantage.
We urge the newly appointed Mayor and his Mayoral committee to prioritise the restoration of power in Naledi. We call for a swift and transparent action plan to rectify the cable and switchgear fault, including regular updates to the affected community.