Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Hessie Shebe and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng. See attached pictures here, here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will actively push for improved service delivery in Kopanong to ensure that the municipality’s towns can realise their full tourism and economic potential.
Without reliable water, electricity, waste collection, and properly functioning wastewater treatment plants, the Southern Free State’s rich heritage and natural attractions remain underutilised, limiting local job creation and economic growth.
We celebrate the diverse cultural, historic and natural diversity of the region. Each of the nine towns that form Kopanong has a rich and diverse heritage, such as the Hennie Steyn Bridge, which is the 2nd longest bridge in the country; the historic towns of Philippolis and Fauresmith, historic gravesites in Bethulie and Springfontein, the magnificent Gariepdam, and the Transgariep and Bethulie House Museums, which house the history of the Lephoi, Griqua and Pellissiers.
There is no shortage of heritage sites and tourism activities in the Southern Free State. See photos here, here, here and here.
Unfortunately, dysfunctional local governments, such as the Kopanong Local Municipality (KLM), hinder economic growth in various sectors, particularly tourism. Failure to deliver basic services such as water, electricity, refuse collection, and functional wastewater treatment plants strongly discourages local economic development and job creation in Kopanong.
The municipality has been plagued by haphazard refuse collection, leaking wastewater treatment plants and poor road infrastructure. Visitors to the municipality deserve to be welcomed to reliable roads that provide access to towns, access to clean water, and an environment that is clean and safe.
Despite the lack of delivery of quality basic services by KLM, many businesses, entrepreneurs, community organisations, and ordinary residents take pride in their towns and work hard to keep towns clean and provide services where the municipality fails to do so.
The DA applauds the hard work that has led to the rise of towns such as Philippolis, Fauresmith, Gariepdam and Bethulie into tourist destinations.
We will continue to champion the provision of quality basic services in Kopanong to ensure the full tourism and economic potential of all nine towns is achieved.