Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Diphapang Mofokeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nketoana condemns the catastrophic collapse of sanitation services in Mandela Park, Mamafubedu, and Petrus Steyn, which has become a full-blown public health emergency, violating residents’ rights and dignity.
Nearly a decade after the installation of modern toilets under the Bucket Eradication Programme, the absence of running and drinking water has rendered them useless.
Residents have been forced back to the unhygienic bucket system, with waste often uncollected for weeks. As a result, many have resorted to digging holes in their yards to bury raw human waste, creating severe environmental and health hazards.
The situation is worsened by the municipality’s dilapidated sanitation truck, which leaks sewage along its route and stands parked at municipal premises, spreading a pervasive stench. With rising temperatures, this neglect threatens to escalate into a disease outbreak.
Disturbingly, women in the area are reportedly suffering recurring infections linked to the unsanitary conditions and exposure to raw sewage.
For almost ten years, the Nketoana has failed to provide residents with basic communication or progress reports. No public meetings have been held to address their concerns.
In stark contrast, local farmer Johan Claasen has stepped in, providing underground water at his own expense, a private citizen doing more for the community than the entire municipality.
However, his intervention cannot serve all residents, leaving most without relief.
- The DA demands immediate action from the Nketoana Municipal Manager and Executive Mayor to:
- Declare a public health crisis in Mandela Park.
- Deploy a functional, non-leaking sanitation truck to clear uncollected waste.
- Table a detailed, costed, time-bound plan within seven days to provide running water to all households.
Furthermore, the DA will submit a formal complaint to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) to investigate the direct link between the municipality’s service failure and the health risks faced by residents, particularly women.
The residents of Mandela Park have endured a decade of neglect, disease, and indignity.
We will continue to fight for their right to clean water, proper sanitation, and accountability from those who have failed them.