Note to editors: Please find attached the English soundbite by Cllr Raynie Klaasen and Sesotho by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is concerned by the sustained neglect inflicted on the community of Thaba Nchu by the ANC-led municipality and provincial government. Over the past decades, promises of change have instead led to the deterioration of our community’s quality of life.
This period of neglect has seen the collapse of vital institutions such as the Santa TB Hospital, Poloko Hospital for the Mentally Challenged, Strydom Teachers College, Moroka Nursing College, Thaba Nchu Sun, Naledi Sun, Eureka Reformed School, and the Children’s Home, among others. The lack of infrastructure maintenance, dismal service delivery, and mismanagement at all levels have left the community without a future.
These institutions provided thousands of jobs and sustenance for countless families. The closure of Eureka Reformed School has left troubled teenagers with no support system, pushing many toward illegal activities. Lerato’s Children’s Home once provided shelter and care for homeless youth, who now wander the streets in search of their next meal. Poloko Hospital once offered critical care for the mentally ill, but its closure has abandoned the most vulnerable members of our community to fend for themselves.
The decades of ANC mismanagement have also led to the complete breakdown of Thaba Nchu’s transportation and sewage infrastructure, with roads now in a state of disrepair.
The DA will compile a comprehensive report on the collapse of Thaba Nchu, which will be submitted to the Mayor, Municipal Manager, and the provincial legislature. We are committed to ensuring that the principles of good governance are upheld and call on the community of Thaba Nchu to vote for change in the 2026 local elections.
It is crucial to remember that the continued neglect by the ANC has led to a community in ruins, but together, we can restore Thaba Nchu to its former glory.