By Dirk Kotze | DA Councillor Mangaung Metro Municipality
Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Dirk Kotze and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng. Please see the video here and pictures here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM) urgently calls on the city manager and the infrastructure department to prioritise the upgrade and maintenance of the Pasteur Avenue storm channel in Hospitaalpark.
Ongoing neglect has led to severe consequences for Mangaung residents, including water shortages and safety risks.
The DA is deeply concerned about the failing water infrastructure in MMM, which has resulted in an unreliable water supply. Despite repeated warnings, the municipality has failed to act, worsening the crisis.
One major issue is the failure to channel water to reservoirs after rainfall due to the deteriorating Pasteur Avenue storm channel. Years of neglect have led to collapsed walls, obstructing water flow, wasting water, and contaminating stormwater with sewage.
Stagnant water has caused extreme mosquito outbreaks and unbearable odours, posing a public health hazard.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) highlighted these concerns in a 19 November 2024 report, demanding the MMM and other entities submit action plans within three months.
These plans must address:
- Infrastructure maintenance
- Water shedding mitigation
- Revenue collection improvements
- Elimination of bucket toilets
- Measures against vandalism
- Road rehabilitation
- Better refuse removal
- Hiring qualified personnel
With the 19 February 2025 deadline looming, urgent action is needed. The DA has spent a decade urging the municipality to maintain the storm channel to prevent flooding in Hospitaalpark. Additionally, the DA has called for road and pedestrian safety measures.
A tragic accident during the festive season, where a resident lost his life after his car plunged into the storm channel due to missing traffic barriers, highlights the dire consequences of municipal neglect. Several similar accidents have been reported, reinforcing the need for immediate improvements.
Severe infrastructure mismanagement across Free State municipalities has led to massive financial losses. Over the past eight years, R3.8 billion in conditional grants for infrastructure were forfeited and returned to the National Treasury. Mangaung Metro alone lost over R1.9 billion, worsening service delivery failures, including sewage spills, water leaks, crumbling roads, and stalled housing projects.
The DA will hold the MMM accountable for failing to protect essential infrastructure and residents’ well-being. The time for inaction has passed.
The DA demands immediate intervention to repair and maintain the Pasteur Avenue storm channel and will escalate this matter if the municipality fails to respond.