By Estie Senekal | DA Councillor Dihlabeng Local Municipality
Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Estie Senekal and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken decisive action by conducting a follow-up oversight visit to the Bethlehem Provincial Traffic Department in Dihlabeng, following ongoing public complaints about severe service disruptions.
The visit was led by Cllr Estie Senekal and Cllr Marius Marais, alongside Mr Jafta Mokoena, Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) and Portfolio Committee for Community Safety, Roads, and Transport, Dr Roy Jankielsohn, Leader of the Opposition and DA Caucus Leader in the Free State Legislature, and members of the Dihlabeng DA Caucus.
Residents have repeatedly reported being turned away due to persistent system failures, preventing them from renewing licences and registering vehicles. These failures create unnecessary frustration and hinder economic activity by delaying essential services.
During the oversight visit, the DA engaged with the department’s leadership to demand accountability and immediate solutions to resolve these ongoing technical issues. The party has called for a full audit of the system failures, a timeline for permanent fixes, and regular progress reports to ensure the community is not left in limbo.
The DA will continue to monitor the situation closely and escalate the issue with provincial authorities if necessary. We remain committed to fighting for efficient and reliable municipal services and will not allow the Dihlabeng Municipality to neglect its responsibilities.
The DA urges affected residents to report any service disruptions so that further pressure can be applied to drive meaningful improvements.