Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Irene Rügheimer and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. See attached pictures here, here and here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with serious concern the feedback provided in Council regarding the status of the 2017 reservoir project within the Dihlabeng Local Municipality.
Based on the information presented, it is evident that this is not merely a delayed project but a failed infrastructure initiative that has not delivered on its intended purpose of strengthening the community’s water storage capacity.
The procedural status outlined in the report confirms that, despite the passage of time and the allocation of resources, the project has not translated into functional infrastructure. This raises serious concerns about planning, implementation, oversight, and accountability within the municipality.
The DA emphasises that access to clean and reliable water is a fundamental human right, as enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa. The failure of such a critical project directly undermines this right and places residents, businesses, and vulnerable communities at continued risk.
This situation reflects deeper governance challenges, including:
- Weak project management and oversight.
- Ineffective use of public funds.
- Lack of consequence management.
- Insufficient transparency regarding infrastructure delivery.
The DA believes that effective governance must be built on:
- Accountability for failed projects.
- Transparent use of public funds.
- Proper planning and execution of infrastructure programmes.
- Prioritisation of essential services such as water provision.
The failure of the 2017 reservoir project is not just a technical issue; it represents a breakdown in the municipality’s responsibility to deliver basic services.
The DA therefore calls on the municipality to:
- Provide a full account of the budget spent and the reasons for failure.
- Identify responsible parties and implement consequence management.
- Present a clear remedial plan to ensure adequate water storage capacity going forward.
- Prioritise investment in water infrastructure to safeguard residents’ constitutional rights.
The DA will continue to exercise oversight and advocate for decisive action to ensure that such failures are not repeated and that residents receive the basic services to which they are entitled.