ANC’s political interference steals jobs

The blatant political interference in the R12 000 000 Phomolong Pump Station and Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) project is condemned.

Maxie Badenhorst, DA councillor for Matjhabeng Municipality, says the ANC has hijacked a Ward 3 project to benefit Ward 2. The project was awarded to AMK Construction and Moedi Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd.

“The municipality’s excuse that the project was ‘mistakenly’ believed to be in Ward 2 is absurd, as the pump station sits at Phomolong’s entrance in the heart of Ward 3. The WWTP is within the Tent next to the Motseki voting district. There can be no confusion,” says Badenhorst.

This misrepresentation robbed Ward 3 residents of at least 25 jobs, and 25 households lost vital income to put food on the table. Whilst unemployment is high across Matjhabeng, it is unacceptable to take opportunities meant for Ward 3 and hand them to Ward 2, which has its own projects.

Badenhorst says the ANC Ward 2 councillor appointed local labour from his ward with the full cooperation of the director of infrastructure. Despite a formal inquiry to the acting municipal manager over a month ago, and two promises by the director to arrange meetings, nothing materialised, a stalling tactic to ensure the project is completed without Ward 3 benefiting.

“This is calculated political manoeuvring before the 2026 local government elections. Jobs are being used to score political points and undermine elected ward councillors at residents’ expense,” she says.

Badenhorst has written to the Speaker of Ma-tjhabeng Municipality to address the interference of the Ward 2 councillor in Ward 3, and to address the misconduct of the director of infrastructure for including Ward 2’s councillor whilst excluding Ward 3’s.

Badenhorst demands the reassignment of all remaining general labour to Ward 3 residents, disciplinary action against the director of infrastructure, and disciplinary action against the Ward 2 councillor. ”Sidelining ward councillors and exclu-

ding residents from jobs erodes trust in government and fuels unrest. With raw sewage running down Phomolong’s streets daily, political meddling is directly increasing instability. Residents deserve fair treatment and honest governance, not a ruling party that manipulates projects for political gain.”