Note to Editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Cllr Ntombi Mokoena and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Diphapang Mofokeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Phumelela municipality has formally dismissed a R700,000 invoice linked to the failed renewal of a sewage line and has placed full responsibility on the municipality for failing to hold the contractor to account. This decision was reached during a two-day council session.
The invoice, stemming from a contract awarded by the Free State Province in 2022, was rejected because the work remains unfinished and has caused significant hardship for the community. Residents in Warden, specifically, endure raw sewage flowing through the town, a direct outcome of the stalled project.
The contractor has sent an invoice for R700,000 while leaving the community to suffer. The DA will not support the release of public funds for unfinished work and will continue to push for accountability from the municipality that failed to enforce oversight and protect residents.
The DA notes the community is also burdened with broken water pipes, damaged by the contractor and left unrepaired. This has disrupted the traffic department’s full functionality, further compounding the fallout from the unfinished work.
To resolve this crisis, the DA will write to the provincial government and the municipality to request a complete and detailed report. This must include:
- a clear plan of action,
- a firm timeline for the completion of outstanding work,
- the complete repair of all damaged infrastructure, and
- a strategy to address water leakages and road damage before the upcoming rainy season.
Our community has been waiting three years for the completion of this project. We will work with Phumelela residents and will not sanction public funds for unfinished work that continues to harm our people.