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The DA welcomes an investigation into Sol Plaatje municipality’s “incentive schemes”, as announced by the municipal manager during Wednesday's council meeting.

This includes Sol Plaatje’s Kimberley Incentive Network Association (KINA) initiative, as well as the subsequent “Maintenance for Debt Write Off” initiatives, which included an agreement with a private company for the maintenance of the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Oversight inspections to the plant, by myself and DA-colleagues in June this year, confirmed that the plant is dysfunctional and cannot meet the sewerage-related needs of the city.

It is unacceptable for any municipality to pay for a service that it does not receive or to use public funds in a way that does not benefit service delivery or the public. Since the oversight, I have therefore tabled questions in council meetings and spared no effort in getting answers on why the municipality persisted with the seemingly futile agreement.

While the DA’s persistence has secured greater transparency and accountability for residents of Sol Plaatje, we will not rest until the daily struggles faced by residents, as a result of collapsing bulk infrastructure systems, is a thing of the past.

The DA will closely monitor progress in terms of the investigation and continue with our oversight to ensure that any agreements around maintenance or upgrades comply with the law and provide lasting benefits for residents.

Residents of Sol Plaatje already have to put up with regular sewage spills that flood residential properties, frequent water interruptions, power outages worsened by dilapidated electrical systems, dysfunctional streetlights, and potholes everywhere. They shouldn't have to bear the brunt of criminality too.

Issued by Chris Whittaker, Cllr - Sol Plaatje Municipality