Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Estelle Dansey and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. See attached pictures here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matjhabeng has written to the Municipal Manager and speaker to escalate the failure of emergency services and to secure urgent accountability and a clear turnaround plan, following a devastating fire in Odendaalsrus where a family lost their home and belongings on Saturday, 21 March.
The DA extends its sincere sympathy to the affected family during this difficult time. However, this incident raises serious concerns about the state of emergency services under the ANC-led Matjhabeng Municipality.
Despite the fire brigade being contacted at the time of the incident, no municipal response had been received days later. The situation required intervention from a local company, whose assistance helped contain the fire and prevent further damage.
This unfortunate event highlights two long-standing challenges:
- The ongoing shortage and apparent unavailability of operational firefighting vehicles have repeatedly been raised in council by Democratic Alliance councillors.
- Continued water supply interruptions, including over weekends, severely hamper emergency response efforts and place residents at risk.
While this is not an isolated incident, it is a stark reminder of the real human cost of prolonged service delivery shortcomings.
The DA believes that residents deserve a municipality that is responsive, prepared, and capable of delivering basic services, especially in times of crisis.
We remain committed to holding the ANC-led administration accountable and to advocating for improved service delivery for all residents of Matjhabeng.