Madli Grobbelaar
Many residents of the Moqhaka Municipality believe that those in charge should be held accountable for ongoing failures and the lack of urgency in tackling critical service delivery issues stemming from what is termed mismanagement, neglect, and poor governance under the current leadership.
Cllr Chris Dalton of the DA says one of the leadership failures by the municipality involves its unsettled Eskom account, which is a looming crisis.
“The absence of a clear plan to address this issue is deeply concerning, leaving residents anxious about the inevitable consequences of inaction,” says Dalton.
“Another failure by the municipality is the deliberate dumping of sewage into the river, which is an environmental catastrophe in the making. Despite the severe health and ecological risks, there is no urgency from municipal leadership to halt this pollution and protect the well-being of residents.”
During a site inspection on 12 March, Dalton found the water treatment plant at a complete standstill, and yet no action has been taken.Dalton says the persistent supply of brown water, ongoing water shedding, and prolonged dry periods are clear violations of residents’ basic human rights.
Poor maintenance of the municipality’s yellow and white fleet has resulted in the unnecessary hiring of private contractors at exorbitant rates. This raises concerns about financial accountability and responsible governance.
Despite repeated warnings from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Auditor-General, no decisive action has been taken to address these issues.
Dalton says the DA is committed to ensuring accountability and transparency by demanding answers in the council on these pressing issues.
“We urge the residents of Moqhaka to stand with us in calling for responsible governance,” says Dalton.
You must be logged in to post a comment.