Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Brunhilde Rossouw and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Ernst Putsoenyane.
The residents of Makeleketla, Winburg, are still waiting for relief following the devastating storm of 2023, which left many homeless and their lives upended. Despite assurances, assistance to restore homes and livelihoods has not materialised, and the situation has reached a critical point.
On 9 February 2026, Cogta visited Masilonyana Municipality and disclosed that R25 million, specifically allocated for disaster relief, had been diverted to other purposes. Alarmingly, even the council remains in the dark regarding how these funds were spent.
These revelations raise serious concerns about transparency and governance within the municipality. The council appears to have been excluded from key financial decisions, raising questions about accountability and the proper use of public funds.
Further concerns include:
- Enormous debts owed to Eskom remain unaddressed, while repeated requests by the DA Caucus to include Eskom as an agenda item at council meetings have been ignored.
- Debt collectors are being appointed without council resolutions, indicating a lack of due
process.
- The register of council resolutions has not been made available, undermining transparency.
- Third parties are not being paid.
- SARS attachments have occurred.
- The municipality faces extensive litigation.
- Questions submitted for council meetings are not placed on agendas.
- Telkom is installing prepaid meters despite a council resolution that the Distribution Agency
Agreement (DAA) be considered.
- The billing system has collapsed.
These ongoing issues make it clear that the community is being failed. Those most in need, particularly residents affected by the 2023 disaster, have been completely neglected. The critical question remains: what steps will be taken to assist those who need support to rebuild their homes and lives?
The residents of Makeleketla and Winburg deserve answers and urgent intervention. The community calls on the municipality to disclose how disaster relief funds were spent, address outstanding debts, and uphold governance standards to restore public trust.
In light of these concerns, the DA Caucus has called for an intensive investigation into the municipality’s finances.