Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Hismajesty Maqhubu.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted questions to the Municipal Manager to compel Tokologo Local Municipality to present a clear, time-bound plan to restore dignified sanitation in Dealesville. We are deeply concerned that the municipality is not only unprepared to provide flushing toilets, but has shown no commitment to eradicating buckets and pit latrines.
This neglect became tragically evident when sewer spills flooded Tshwaraganang, endangering learners at Tshomarelo Primary School and disrupting church services, as worshippers were unable to reach their places of worship. As a result, residents are exposed to serious health risks, environmental contamination, and a daily assault on their dignity.
At present, no adequate infrastructure has been established to connect residents to the sewer main line. Pump stations and oxidation ponds remain incomplete, leaving the community exposed to unsafe and undignified conditions. This is a direct consequence of municipal mismanagement and failure to prioritise basic human rights.
The DA’s primary concern is that municipal workers are being sent into hazardous environments without the necessary tools of trade. A serious municipality would maintain high-capacity jetting and suction trucks in its yellow fleet, alongside specialised industrial chemicals such as bulk caustic soda.
Yet, during the DA’s oversight visit to the municipal storeroom, we found no high-tensile drain rods, mechanical augers, or bomb/pointed nozzles. Even more alarming is the absence of protective gear. Workers were forced to handle raw sewage and corrosive chemicals without gloves, goggles, or face masks, an unacceptable violation of occupational safety standards.
This failure of Tokologo Municipality is not just about infrastructure; it is about dignity, safety, and accountability. Communities cannot continue to suffer under a government that disregards their health and well-being.
The DA calls for immediate intervention to:
- Complete the sewer infrastructure, including pump stations and oxidation ponds.
- Equip municipal workers with proper tools of trade and protective gear.
- Introduce a comprehensive sanitation plan that eradicates bucket toilets and pit latrines.
- Ensure transparent reporting and accountability for service delivery failures.
The DA will continue to fight for the rights of Dealesville residents to live in a community with safe, dignified, and functional sanitation. Tokologo Municipality must be held accountable for its neglect, and the people must no longer be subjected to unsafe and undignified conditions.