Note to Editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Cllr Ian Riddle, Afrikaans soundbite by Werner Pretorius MPL, and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will urgently call for immediate financial intervention and accountability measures to ensure that municipal employees in Mohokare receive their long-overdue salaries and that critical service delivery is stabilised without delay.
As the festive season approaches, employees of the Mohokare Municipality have once again found themselves without their expected salaries. On payday, staff were shocked to discover that their December wages had not been deposited.
The municipality’s lack of communication only added to the distress, leaving employees uncertain and frustrated at a crucial time of year.
The municipality’s financial woes have reached a critical point, as EMS recently attached its bank account for nonpayment.
Financial instability is not only affecting employees but also seriously impacting the delivery of basic services to residents. The municipality has been struggling with persistent water shortages, mainly due to a lack of necessary chemicals for water treatment. The situation is dire, with only enough chemicals to last the next 10 days, raising the prospect of no water supply over the festive period. This would create significant hardships for both residents and local businesses.
Waste collection services are also under severe strain. Currently, only a single compactor truck serves all three towns within the municipality. Just three weeks prior, this truck was also attached due to nonpayment, though the issue was resolved quickly at the time. However, unless the municipality finds a sustainable solution, there is a strong likelihood that such disruptions will recur.
The looming water crisis is particularly concerning for Smithfield, which is strategically located on the N6, halfway between Johannesburg and East London. Smithfield is a popular stopover for travellers, and many accommodation providers may be forced to turn away guests if they cannot guarantee a basic water supply.
Residents across the three towns of Mohokare continue to grapple with what should be fundamental human rights: access to water and reliable electricity. Under the current ANC administration, service delivery has been hampered by internal conflicts and unfulfilled promises.
Despite repeated assurances that improvements will be made, many residents feel that little has changed over the past three decades.
Given these persistent challenges, we urge voters to carefully consider which municipalities are effectively serving their communities. Even the ANC president has publicly acknowledged that many of South Africa’s best-run municipalities are governed by the DA.
As the next election approaches, this issue remains at the forefront of public concern.