MASHAENG – Residents in parts of the Dihlabeng Municipality have voiced mounting frustration over persistent delays and what they describe as the continued neglect of basic municipal services in Mashaeng, Vuka and Motsekuwa.
Key concerns include overgrown public spaces and the rapid deterioration of gravel roads, which residents warn are becoming increasingly hazardous and, in some instances, virtually impassable. Service requests submitted as far back as February and March remain unresolved, including appeals for grass cutting at Freedom Square in Mashaeng and maintenance work in Motsekuwa. The lack of response drew particular criticism during the recent Human Rights Day commemoration, when residents were expected to gather in an area that had not been properly maintained – an oversight many described as undermining the dignity associated with the occasion.
In ward 9, encompassing Vuka and Motsekuwa, as well as in Vogelfontein in ward 11, residents report that repeated requests to repair gravel roads have been routinely ignored. The condition of these roads has deteriorated to such an extent that they now pose serious safety risks and significantly hinder daily movement.
Cllr Estie Senekal of the DA in Dihlabeng says the party has formally approached the Directorate of Community Services and Public Works, calling for urgent intervention. The party has raised concerns over what it characterises as inconsistent and inequitable service delivery, and has sought clarity on the criteria used to prioritise municipal service requests. Among its demands, the DA has called for the immediate resolution of outstanding maintenance issues in Mashaeng and Motsekuwa, as well as urgent repairs to gravel roads in Wards 9 and 11. It has further urged the municipality to ensure that services are delivered in a fair, transparent and consistent manner across all communities.
The matter is expected to remain under scrutiny as engagements between the party and the department continue.
