Major unrest and disruption took place in Kroonstad over poor service delivery.
On Wednesday, 27 August, residents of Moakeng Kroonstad blocked several roads with litter, glass bottles, and large stones.
Litter was set on fire and several roads were inaccessible, which made it impossible for residents from Moakeng, Kroonstad to access the town. Patients and ambulances could not reach Boitumelo Hospital, and people travelling to and from Viljoenskroon battled to enter Kroonstad.
Cllr Spaski Geldenhuis from the Moqhaka Municipality says the DA condemns the current situation in Moqhaka and calls for the urgent restoration of essential services that led to the violent unrest.
“We urge the mayor and municipal management to urgently address the issues of blocked prepaid metres, burst water pipes, and disputes with SMME contractors that have left residents without basic services.”
Whilst they recognise the legitimate grievances motivating the protests, they unequivocally denounce the destructive violence that has emerged. The societal disruptions are profound: educational institutions are paralysed, healthcare services are critically impeded, and economic productivity is severely compromised by widespread roadblocks.
The unrest also forced the cancellation of an important event at Boitumelo Hospital, where the MEC of Health, Monyatso Maklatsi, was to attend an open day. A discharged patient faced difficulties leaving due to disruptions, highlighting the human impact.
Geldenhuis says these ongoing service delivery failures stem from the lack of permanent directors and senior managers at the Moqhaka Municipality.
“The mayor’s inaction over the last four years has severely harmed our community,” he says.
The DA urges citizens to continue expressing their grievances peacefully and without major disruptions to the rest of the community.
According to Dika Kheswa, the Moqhaka Municipality spokesperson, the current protests reflect deeper financial strain, with multiple stakeholders – including residents, businesses, and government departments – owing substantial unrecovered funds.
The municipality is actively calling on community members to address their outstanding municipal fees and collaborate towards resolving the ongoing service delivery challenges.
You must be logged in to post a comment.