Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Carina Serfontein and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Joseph Mbele.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ngwathe condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the continued failure of government departments to make timeous payments to institutions such as schools and other government facilities, resulting in severe financial pressure and electricity disconnections affecting essential public services.
It is completely unacceptable and deeply unfair towards communities that critical institutions and vulnerable facilities are repeatedly plunged into darkness because departments fail to honour their financial obligations, while ordinary residents are expected to continue paying for collapsing services.
The DA questions how government can expect pensioners, struggling households and businesses to continue paying their municipal accounts while state departments themselves continue to contribute towards non-payment and financial instability within municipalities.
Of even greater concern is that payments from departments are often made directly to institutions such as schools and other facilities, which are then responsible for paying municipal accounts from those allocated funds. When these departmental payments are delayed or not made timeously, institutions are left unable to settle their municipal accounts, resulting in electricity disconnections and service interruptions.
Facilities accommodating vulnerable residents, patients, learners and essential public services are therefore being exposed to dangerous and inhumane conditions due to administrative failures, financial mismanagement and the ongoing collapse of intergovernmental accountability.
No patient, learner, resident or community should suffer because departments responsible for public services fail to manage and transfer funds responsibly and on time.
The DA will:
- Request the Municipal Manager to urgently verify all affected government-linked accounts
- Demand full disclosure regarding outstanding amounts, billing disputes and payment arrangements
- Continue monitoring the situation to ensure vulnerable residents and critical institutions are protected
The continued failure by government departments to honour their obligations is reckless, irresponsible and unfair towards communities already battling failing infrastructure, financial pressure and collapsing municipal services.
Communities deserve accountability, dignity and uninterrupted access to essential services.