/ 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 DA, together with local stakeholders, has recently stepped in for the incompetent municipality of Beaufort West, led by the ANC/PA coalition, making sure that affected areas have a sufficient supply of water. DA councillors also fixed water pumps at their own expense.

Last year, loadshedding caused major damage to municipal water infrastructure, and the DA caucus raised the alarm of a coming crisis at a Council meeting. The DA then requested that solar panels be installed at boreholes to keep them functional during periods of loadshedding.

The ANC coalition government ignored our warning and choose instead to spend money on unnecessary litigation and the employment of cadres.

In addition, Western Cape Minster for Local Government, Anton Bredell, last year donated a generator with sufficient capacity to be used on pumps at reservoirs. This generator was not maintained and broke down after only a few days of use.

In a futile attempt to remedy the situation, the municipality sent the local fire truck to deliver water to affected communities. The fire truck only has 2 500 litre capacity, which is not nearly enough to help these residents.

We wish to thank our DA activists, councillors, and local stakeholders, for picking up the municipality’s slack, putting residents first, and doing everything they can to help communities in times of need.

The DA in Beaufort West makes yet another urgent call on the ANC coalition to allocate funds for the installation of solar panels at our boreholes. Put the residents first, not yourselves!

Issued by Schaun Meyers - DA Caucus leader, Beaufort-West