Note to Editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Cllr Ian Riddle, Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Estelle Noordman and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL.
The DA in Mohokare has written to the Municipal Manager about the alarming increase in crime across our municipality, which coincides with the widespread failure of streetlights and high-mast lighting in all three towns: Zastron, Smithfield, and Rouxville.
In Zastron alone, three murders were reported in the past month. Residents have highlighted that while high-mast lights burn throughout the day, only about 30% function at night when they are most needed. In Smithfield, lights operate during the day but remain off in the evenings, leaving communities vulnerable. In Rouxville, high-mast lights burn continuously, visible from the N6, yet very few streetlights in the town are operational.
This mismanagement has contributed to Mohokare’s debt of over R136 million owed to Eskom, a direct consequence of lights burning unnecessarily during daylight hours. Currently, only an average of 10% of streetlights across the municipality are functioning. Properly maintained lighting is a basic service that plays a vital role in protecting residents, and the ANC-led Mohokare Municipality has failed to deliver on this responsibility.
Simple interventions, such as adjusting timers to ensure lights operate correctly, could save enormous amounts of money and improve safety. As the saying goes, “Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.” The issue is not a lack of tools but a lack of maintenance, accountability, and responsible management.
Without consequence management, the municipality cannot achieve clean audits or provide the quality of service delivery our residents deserve.
Mohokare needs a Council that takes responsibility and implements strong consequence management programmes. DA-run municipalities have consistently demonstrated that good governance improves lives and ensures the well-being of communities.
We stand by our commitment that voting DA in the next Local Government Elections will bring the change Mohokare urgently needs.