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The failure of Phokwane municipality to fix an affordable and easy to repair sewerage spill that is wreaking devastation on homes, schools and businesses in Jan Kempdorp, has again raised concerns about the ANC-run local government’s internal instability and poor financial state.

While repairs were eventually sanctioned about four weeks ago, after consistent pressure by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and threats by the DA to criminally charge the acting Municipal Manager, Ms Kealebogha Gaborone, the Supply Chain Management (SCM) unit has yet to procure two pipes at a minimal cost of R84 000, to allow the two-day job to proceed.

In addition, Ms Gaborone, who had previously been seconded by COGHSTA to serve in the acting MM position, was also recalled last week, once again leaving the institution leaderless and aggravating concerns that promised repairs will be further hamstrung.

Meanwhile, the sewerage situation at the silos remains intolerable.

Sewage continues to seep into boreholes, with at least two already contaminated with E. coli. Sewage in the road is already pushing up into houses in Andalusia Park and in a house at the “Lande”. Businesses, a school and a creche in the industrial area are also badly affected. The DA further previously reported that two bodies have been found in the sewage that has dammed up at the silos.

The DA will now make good on our threat to lay criminal charges against the municipality in respect of NEMA 107 of 1998 Section 49A (1) in an effort to enforce some kind of accountability.

No amount of criminal charges, however will make up for the inherent inefficiency within Phokwane, where ANC-infighting continues to thwart service delivery. This has already been demonstrated by numerous failed government-driven interventions in Phokwane.

The only real solution is to make Phokwane an ANC-free zone. This is possible if enough people stand up for service delivery on 1 November 2021.

It is time to replace the festering ANC-municipality with a DA-run municipality. A DA local government would not let R84 000 stand in the way of creating a sewerage-free zone. To the contrary, DA-run municipalities, like Hessequa are investing in sewerage systems. In fact, Hessequa has already upgraded two sewerage stations, bringing services to homes in Melkhoutfontein and Heidelberg. We could do this for the people of Andalusia Park, “Die Lande” and the rest of Phokwane too.

Issued by Annette van Wyk, Cllr - Phokwane Municipality