Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Sello Makoena Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Marius Marais with images here, here, here, and here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will formally demand an urgent forensic investigation into the abandoned container park project in Dihlabeng and call on the municipality to immediately secure the site and account for every rand spent. We will also escalate the matter to the relevant provincial oversight authorities should the municipality fail to act swiftly to protect what remains of this public asset.
We are outraged by the shocking findings following an oversight visit to the Dihlabeng Municipality’s container park project. The site has been completely abandoned and left without any security, monitoring, or basic protection, resulting in widespread vandalism and significant damage to infrastructure that was intended to support local economic activity. This is not merely negligence; it represents serious mismanagement that is actively destroying public assets funded by taxpayers.
Public funds were allocated to this project to support local businesses, create employment opportunities, and stimulate economic development in the community. Instead, the municipality’s failure to safeguard the site has placed the entire project at risk of collapse, leaving voters with little to show for money that should have improved their livelihoods and strengthened the local economy.
The Municipal Systems Act (MSA) and the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) place a clear legal duty on municipalities to protect, manage, and account for public infrastructure and finances. By allowing this project to deteriorate, Dihlabeng Municipality has undermined public trust and risks exposing the municipality to fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Residents deserve transparent governance and infrastructure that benefits their communities, not abandoned projects and squandered opportunities.