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The Democratic Alliance was shocked at the general state of deterioration of Hlanganani village during an oversight visit last week.

Hlanganani village is located in ward 6 of the Collins Chabane Municipality, a relatively young Municipality that was only established in 2016 which is being investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) since May 2021 for allegations of corruption and impropriety.

Collins Chabane furthermore deposited R120 million with VBS bank and the Municipal Manager is currently facing charges of corruption as a result of kickbacks allegedly received for facilitating the transaction.

The manifestation of the ANC rot and maladministration are the suffering residents and lack of services that villages like Hlanganani have to endure.

The sewage plant has not been functioning for the past 10 years. Sewage blockages result in flooding of the sewage into houses, as the pump is ineffective. (See photos here and here)

Residents need to personally take sewage in buckets to dump at the sewage plant because of the overflowing.

The sewage ponds also overflow into a nearby river, where villagers and animals drink the same water downstream causing severe health hazards. Kids also play in the river which causes health hazards.

The residents have had to resort to digging additional sewer pipes in their yards to try and stop the overflow of sewage within their homes – but this is not a long term solution.

There has been no water services in ward six for the past 6 years and not even a single water truck has been deployed to the area.

Residents need to purchase water from a private resident who has a borehole who charges anything from R1.00 to R3.00 for 20 litres of water.

The roads are also a challenge when it rains and because there are no refuse services in the area, rubbish is strewn on the streets. (See photos  here and here).

This is an extremely poor community devoid of any dignity. It has been forgotten by the ANC.

Only a DA government will ensure every community has access to reliable, clean, running water, that is safe to drink and to prepare food. Only the DA can bring much needed change so that there is no untreated wastewater contaminating the environment, homes, streets, and sidewalks.

Issued by DA Political Head for Vhembe Constituency, Risham Maharaj MPL