/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Masilonyana Local Municipality welcomes the decision by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the refurbishment of the water pipeline from the Sandvet Canal to Brandfort.

Despite the significant amounts spent on this project since its handover in July 2017, the Brandfort community continues to endure prolonged water shortages, often for days or even weeks. Water tankers are brought in as a temporary solution, but the needs of the community remain unmet, and the additional costs involved must be included in the investigation. We question who benefits from the community's ongoing hardships.

The DA has posed detailed questions appropriately, yet these have been blatantly ignored by those responsible. We remain committed to ensuring transparent governance and value for money in municipal contracts. We pledge our full cooperation with any investigations that will lead to accountability and improved performance from officials entrusted with public funds.

Proclamation 182 of 2024 mandates the SIU to investigate allegations of maladministration in two tenders within the Masilonyana Local Municipality, including the refurbishment of the Brandfort Water Treatment Works and Raw Water Pump Stations. The scope of the investigation covers conduct between 1 May 2020 and 13 September 2024.

The ongoing failure to properly manage and maintain the Brandfort pipeline is having a direct, negative impact on the daily lives of the Brandfort community. Access to clean and reliable water is a basic human right, yet the residents have been denied this essential service for years. The DA believes that the community's welfare must be prioritised and that public resources must not be squandered on ineffective solutions or mismanaged projects.

The DA will continue to advocate for strict maintenance and repair plans for the 2024–2025 financial year to ensure that the residents of Brandfort receive the clean, reliable water they are constitutionally entitled to. We will press for immediate, transparent actions to correct the current situation, including ensuring that service providers deliver as per agreed specifications and that value for money is upheld.

Additionally, we call on the SIU to expedite the investigation and for the municipality to take immediate corrective action. We will remain vigilant in holding those responsible accountable and will not rest until the people of Brandfort have access to the water they deserve.

Issued by Marieta Visser - DA Councillor Masilonyana Local Municipality