Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr René Steyn and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. See attached pictures here, here, here, and here.
The DA will write to Matjhabeng’s Municipal Manager to address ongoing service delivery failures and call for urgent action on water leaks, sewage spills, broken streetlights, and failing electricity infrastructure.
As local government elections draw closer, the decline in service delivery has become impossible to ignore. Water runs down damaged streets while taps run dry. Raw sewage flows through neighbourhoods, streetlights remain broken, grass grows unchecked, and businesses struggle to keep their doors open.
Amid this neglect, an ANC election poster proudly proclaims: “A Better Life for All.” The irony would be laughable if the consequences were not so devastating.
Water leaks are reported repeatedly, sewer blockages and backflows go unattended, and poor water pressure has become the norm. Municipal officials do not answer their phones, messages go unanswered, and residents are left wondering whether anyone is listening.
Meanwhile, the ANC-led municipality appears more concerned with playing musical chairs than delivering services. The revolving door of acting appointments in critical positions, including Municipal Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Infrastructure and Community Services, undermines the stability, accountability and leadership required to govern. As chairs change, the problems remain.
Service delivery deteriorates as residents face exorbitant tariff increases, questionable municipal accounts and persistent billing irregularities. They are expected to pay more for water they cannot reliably access, electricity they cannot depend on, and infrastructure that is visibly falling apart.
Cable theft and vandalism continue to cripple electrical infrastructure, while non-functional streetlights compromise public safety. Raw sewage flows openly through streets and public spaces, exposing residents, including children and older adults, to potential illness and environmental hazards.
Residents receive just enough water to be billed into oblivion, but not enough to sustain dignified households, thriving businesses or a prosperous local economy.
The consequences extend beyond inconvenience. This neglect harms Matjhabeng’s people, businesses, animals, environment, and precious water resources.
The ANC-led government has had years to deliver on its promises. Residents are not asking for luxuries, but running water, working streetlights, functioning sanitation, reliable electricity, accountable officials and municipal accounts that make sense.
Residents should not have to beg for services they pay for, chase officials to do their jobs, or accept environmental degradation, failing infrastructure, and economic decline as inevitable. They should not be expected to applaud another campaign promising a better life while standing ankle-deep in evidence of its failure.
The DA believes Matjhabeng can become a municipality where public money is managed responsibly, infrastructure is maintained, officials are held accountable, and service delivery is treated as a duty rather than a favour. Communities deserve leadership that answers the phone, fixes leaks, clears sewers and restores lights.
Matjhabeng is home to hardworking people, businesses, families and communities who deserve the opportunity to flourish. Surviving is not living. Enduring neglect is not progress. Paying more for less is certainly not a better life.