Note to Editors: Please see attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Pieter Lotriet and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) tabled measures in Council, accepted by all parties, to refocus Mangaung Metro Municipality’s Asset Management Policy on proper maintenance of existing infrastructure.
By doing so, the DA seeks to prevent the further collapse of public facilities, stop the waste of millions of taxpayer dollars, and restore reliable services to the community. Without decisive action, the community will continue to suffer from collapsing facilities, wasted expenditure, and the erosion of service delivery.
The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) has criticised Mangaung Metro for inadequate asset management and the absence of essential policies to ensure infrastructure maintenance. This neglect has had direct consequences for residents, as critical projects are unable to fulfil their full potential in service.
A lack of maintenance not only wastes public funds but also strips the community of resources meant to uplift their quality of life. When assets are left to deteriorate, they cease to serve the very people whose rates and taxes sustain the Metro.
We recognise that this shortcoming is crippling Mangaung. That is why we will place maintenance at the centre of our oversight of the Asset Management Policy.
We propose that Council interrogates this policy with urgency, shifting its focus towards preventative care rather than allowing assets to deteriorate until they require costly repairs or replacement. The cost of neglect far outweighs the cost of regular upkeep, and it is the community that pays the price through service collapse and fruitless expenditure.
Examples across the Metro show the devastating effects of neglect:
- In Hamilton Gardens, lawns are constantly overgrown and littered, creating an unsafe and unsightly public space.
- Orchard House stands in a state of disrepair despite repeated complaints, and a Rule 38 submission on the matter remains unanswered.
- The Arthur Nathan Swimming Pool has seen R10 million wasted, with no functional outcome, while the Oliewenhuis lawns are rendered unusable by weeds and thorns.
- The Edge Restaurant on Naval Hill, once a promising project aimed at generating revenue, is now deteriorating, contributing nothing to the Metro’s coffers.
- In Hilton, the soccer field lies abandoned and unusable, depriving young people of recreational opportunities.
More broadly, billions of rands’ worth of infrastructure, including roads, stormwater systems, water, and electricity, have been lost due to chronic neglect. The result is a Metro that is haemorrhaging resources and failing its citizens.
The DA will not allow this decline to continue unchecked. We will demand a dedicated refocus on maintenance in the Asset Management Policy and hold the ANC-led administration accountable for every cent wasted.
The people of Mangaung deserve sustainable, functional infrastructure that supports growth and dignity, not empty promises and crumbling facilities.