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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Masilonyana Local municipality is concerned by the neglect, lack of maintenance and destruction of infrastructure, leaving the community to bear the brunt of the collapsing ANC-led municipality, being denied the basic human right to water.

In 2017, the municipality received a cutting-edge pipeline that transports water from the canal at Erfenisdam to the Brandfort water treatment plant. Each of the three pump stations was outfitted with all necessary equipment, including backup and a fully automated telemetry system.

What remains today are three barely functional pump stations, combining pumps, motors, and various electric systems that must be switched on and off by hand, located 10 kilometres apart. There is no backup equipment, and parts are frequently taken from other installations to keep things running without being replaced.

The cash-strapped municipality relies heavily on contractors to provide expensive components. Since this work is always done as an “emergency” it allows for deviation from normal procurement procedures.

Brandfort’s water woes have dragged on for years. In 2011 the Human Rights Commission (HRC) found that the municipality was at fault. In February 2017, the HRC again stated that the provincial government is legally obliged to intervene.

The Department of Water and Sanitation did provide fully equipped boreholes in Brandfort, including solar panels, but they were quickly vandalised and rendered useless to the community. If maintained, it could now supplement the water supply; instead, the municipality must rely on contracted water tankers.

The administration is run by the only remaining Director, who is now the acting Municipal Manager, as well as the Director of Social and Community Services. The Technical Director is under suspension since July 2022, the Chief Financial Officer has absconded, and the acting Director of Corporate was suspended last week.

This means that Michelle Sello is now responsible for all the decisions in the municipality.

A spate of cable theft is adding to the miseries of the community, with one very old cherry-picker serving all four towns, the turnaround time for restoring electricity is unacceptable, with one house in Theunissen waiting for repairs for over two weeks.

The ANC in local government cries about old infrastructure and loadshedding to cover their incompetence. Residents of Masilonyana, however, are being denied their basic human rights by this very same incompetence.

The DA Member of Parliament, Dr Annelie Lotriet will submit Parliamentary questions to the relevant Ministers to ensure that rural communities in the Free State are not forgotten.

The DA is committed to bringing change across the country and therefore urges all residents to register to vote in the 2024 National and Provincial Government elections.

Issued by Marieta Visser - DA Councillor Masilonyana Local Municipality