Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by David Mc Kay MPL and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL with images here and here
Free State municipalities are riddled with acting cadre deployed senior officials. As a result, the officials in these positions veered away from accountability and decisive action in fear of not being permanently appointed.
Winburg is a prime example of cadre deployment at work. The current Director of Infrastructure has been suspended with pay for the last 25 months, while her position has been filled temporarily by several Acting Directors, the latest being appointed on Thursday. This indicates that the municipality is protecting officials, which causes double pay to the municipality’s payroll.
This lack of consistency and accountability has resulted in the town of Winburg being severely impacted by several basic service infrastructure maintenance issues, among these, the ongoing electricity problems, which in itself has created a cascade of issues for both residents and businesses. The situation has left the PAO workshop and office at a standstill for nearly four months, drastically affecting various operations.
Some of the key issues and impacts created by the lack of continuous and reliable electricity include:
1. Operational suspension at PAO Workshop:
– The absence of electricity has immobilized the use of the overhead crane needed to install engines in 3 graders, which has resulted in no road being graded.
– Firefighting equipment and Bomac Rollers cannot be loaded or used due to the lack of power.
– During the past 3 months without electricity, the security crisis has worsened, with four burglaries reported.
– Inoperable telephones mean public problems cannot be addressed, and emergency calls cannot be made.
2. Administrative and Operational Challenges:
– SCM staff cannot generate orders as computers are non-functional and tied to a specific IP address.
– Network failures mean reports must be physically reported to the head office, limiting fieldwork due to a restricted perimeter.
– Only one vehicle that is not even roadworthy to service the entire Masiloyana Municipality.
3. Impact on Local Businesses and Agriculture:
– The Winburg Auction Hub has been without electricity since August 2023 due to a faulty cable. Farmers had to purchase a generator to continue with auctions.
– Senwes silos, essential for agricultural storage, were without power for nearly 3 months. Senwes replaced the cables at their own cost, running a generator which was simply uneconomical
– Local businesses and restaurants faced major operational challenges, relying on generators over the 3-month period.
4. Residential Impact:
– Large residential areas experienced prolonged power outages, leading to damaged appliances and food losses.
– A transformer damaged in December 2023 remains exposed and unrepaired. This is a major safety risk for both residents and animals alike. Recently, a cow was electrocuted by this exposed transformer.
The accumulative effect of these ongoing electrical issues has not only disrupted daily life but has also added a substantial financial burden to the community. The cost of living, already high, has been exacerbated by the reliance on generators due to the loss of operational efficiency by the municipality. Where the DA governs, sustainable reliable electricity is supplied as the DA acknowledges the necessity of electricity to uphold the economy and sustain basic services to towns and cities.