Today, the DA in Mpumalanga embarked on a peaceful march to Msukaligwa Local Municipality. The march was informed by lack of service delivery across the municipality and the ongoing water pollution.
DA provincial leader, Jane Sithole and the party’s caucus in Msukaligwa were accompanied by hundreds of residents and other affected parties as they submitted a memorandum of grievances to the speaker, Ntombifuthi Sarah Xaba.
For years, the municipality has been battling to deal with the contamination of freshwater supplies because of faulty wastewater treatment plants and blocked manholes.
Last year, the Department of Water and Sanitation found that the Ermelo Waste Water Treatment Works was not authorized for engaging in water uses, not functioning adequately and the sewage was bypassing the process units and discharged straight into water resources.
The municipality’s inability to rectify its wastewater treatment shortcomings were also reported in previous Green Drop assessments. The report indicated that there is sustained pollution of the Vaal river, Nels river and Pet dam.
The municipality has also been battling with the following service delivery challenges:
- Extended load shedding hours;
- Malfunctioning system in the municipal accounts;
- Deteriorating state of roads and infrastructure;
- Poor service in the municipal licencing department;
- Municipality’s failure to maintain its recreational facilities; and
- Allegations of cadre deployment in key positions.
Considering the gravity of these challenges, we give the ANC administration 14 working days to respond and attend them. Failure to do so, will lead to intensification of our demonstrations.
The DA is the only party with exceptional governance capabilities. We urge Msukaligwa residents to vote for change and rescue the municipality from the incompetent ANC.