The DA in Gert Sibande District Municipality welcomes the Municipal Intervention Plans adopted by the National Department of Cooperative Governance and the DA believes it is a step in the right direction.
The intervention focuses on Gert Sibande District Municipality as an institution and each Local Municipality in GSDM.
The DA is pleased to see this form of action as the DA has called numerous times for these municipalities to be placed under administration through motions in Council and has also written to the MEC of COGTA in the province requesting the MEC to intervene by using section 139 (1) b.
DA councillors in various municipalities within GSDM have been working very hard to assist the provincial government in order to place these municipalities under administration but the MEC was not willing to listen to the DA.
The report also states that at least four out seven municipalities under GSDM are dysfunctional:
• Msukaligwa,
• Lekwa,
• Dipaleseng and
• Govan Mbeki.
Additionally, two are at medium risk: Mkhondo and Dr Pixley ka Seme. One at low risk: Albert Luthuli (together with GSDM).
Some of the challenges faced in these municipalities are:
- In Msukaligwa, 6.1 % households are without access to water, there is inadequate water supply at Davel, Breyton, Chrissiesmeer, Warburton, Lothar, Sheepmoor, and farm areas.
- Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme has an 11% water backlog. The current water demand of 19.9Ml/day is above the designed capacity of 16.7Ml/day and has a high volume of water losses.
- Lekwa Municipality has a 10% water backlog, lack of reliable water supply in villages and farms. High water losses estimated at 40% as a result of leakages since the supply network is largely asbestos pipes and a 9% electricity backlog where electricity breakages due to exceeding of Eskom notified maximum demand. In Dipaleseng, 5% of households have no access to water or insufficient bulk water infrastructure capacity. Misappropriation of RBIG funds by the municipality caused 28% households are without access to refuse removal and poor solid waste management.
- Govan Mbeki has no source of bulk water supply and water debt owed to Rand Water. Poor management of sewer leakage and spillages and no compliant wastewater treatment plants on Kinross, Embalenhle.
- Vandalism of infrastructure and illegal connection of electricity in the pump station is collapsing the operation.
The DA is aware of these ongoing challenges and has provided solutions to the MEC and they have not implemented.
It is only through a DA-run government, changes can be implemented to resolve these issues.