Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Estelle Pretorius and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. See attached pictures here, here, here, and here.
For years, the DA has raised serious concerns about the deterioration of Tswelopele Local Municipality. Financial mismanagement, political interference, collapsing infrastructure, neglected roads and poor service delivery have left our communities frustrated and disillusioned.
The people of Bultfontein, Hoopstad, Phahameng, Tikwana and surrounding farming communities deserve better.
The DA is not simply highlighting what is wrong. We have a practical plan to rebuild our municipality and restore accountable governance.
Our priorities under DA leadership will include:
- Financial recovery and accountability: Investigating irregular expenditure, eliminating wasteful spending, strengthening financial controls and ensuring municipal funds are spent on essential services.
- Professional municipal management: Ending political interference, appointing competent officials on merit and holding employees and management accountable for performance.
- Roads and infrastructure: Repairing potholes, maintaining gravel roads, restoring the broken municipal vehicle fleet and improving infrastructure maintenance.
- Reliable basic services: Prioritising water supply, sanitation, refuse removal, street cleaning and the maintenance of public facilities.
- Community safety: Strengthening municipal law enforcement, addressing stray livestock, improving street lighting and continuing our call for a satellite police station in Phahameng.
- Economic growth and employment: Support local businesses, farmers, and entrepreneurs; review unreasonable business licensing fees; and create an environment that attracts investment and employment opportunities.
- Healthcare and social support: Working with provincial authorities to improve clinics, ambulance services, mobile healthcare, and support for vulnerable residents.
- Community partnerships: Working alongside businesses, farmers, community organisations and residents to restore pride in our towns.
Under DA leadership, we will assess the municipality’s true financial position, identify urgent service-delivery failures, restore essential municipal equipment, and develop a realistic infrastructure recovery plan.
We will strengthen oversight, improve transparency and introduce measurable service-delivery priorities so that residents can hold their municipality accountable.
We recognise that years of neglect cannot be reversed overnight. However, with responsible financial management, competent leadership, and proper planning, we can rebuild Tswelopele.
Our communities have already demonstrated their willingness to help. Farmers, businesses and volunteers have stepped forward to repair potholes, clean public spaces and assist vulnerable residents.
Imagine what we could achieve with a municipality that supports these efforts instead of standing in their way.
Residents deserve a municipality where public money is protected, employees are accountable, infrastructure is maintained, businesses can prosper, and every community receives the services it deserves.
Tswelopele does not lack potential. It lacks the effective leadership needed to unlock that potential.
The DA is committed to restoring good governance, rebuilding our towns and giving residents renewed hope for the future.