Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Diphapang Mofokeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is issuing a collective and urgent plea to the Nketoana Local Municipality to address the critical and dangerous lack of functional street and mass lighting within the communities of Ntha and Lindley.
This urgent call comes after a recent oversight conducted, where we found that a pervasive state of darkness exists in the Ntha and Lindley, with a shocking lack of functional streetlights. The streets with traffic, including Monatisa Street, Rautenbach Street and Market Street, have been plunged into perpetual darkness.
Our findings validate what residents have been reporting for too long. Despite an existing infrastructure of streetlights, the vast majority remain non-functional, posing significant and unacceptable risks to public safety, property, and daily life.
The continuous darkness has compelled some residents to assume the responsibility of lighting their own homes and streets. This is not an act of affordability or convenience; rather, it is a desperate measure taken to protect homes and assets from a history of crime and property damage brought on by the darkness.
It is unacceptable that residents are compelled to use their personal resources to address a public safety issue that falls squarely under the mandate of the local government.
The consequences of this neglect are severe, though often unreported and undocumented, because residents feel their complaints have fallen on deaf ears. For motorists, the absence of lighting creates perilous driving conditions, forcing them to navigate dark roads with minimal visibility.
We have cows, sheep, and goats that roam freely around our community, making it very easy for a driver to make a mistake that could lead to a tragic accident. The pervasive darkness can be linked to higher crime rates, leaving our communities vulnerable to theft and a deep-seated sense of insecurity.
We are demanding that the municipality fulfil its obligation to maintain what is already in place. The well-being and safety of the residents of Ntha and Lindley should be a top priority for the Nketoana Local Municipality.
Only the DA is committed to rescuing our communities from years of mismanagement.