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The demolition of municipal infrastructure by Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) for urgent maintenance, only for it to be left incomplete, highlights the concerning disregard MMM has for its residents. DA councillors receive complaints daily from residents after maintenance teams left sites with big open craters never to return. Please see pictures here, here, here and here.

These sites include Centlec electricity infrastructure, water pipes that burst on pavements and road infrastructure. Some of the sites have been left open for more than a year, with hazardous power cables and high-pressure water pipes exposed.

Homeowners are concerned with the stability of border concrete fences and walls. Estate agents in Mangaung are worried that the exposed sites have an impact on property values and keep homebuyers away. A greater concern is that some of these sites are located at schools where children pass by.

The municipality continues to justify these sites remaining open to see if repairs were done properly, but are forgotten a few days later. Contractors do not comply with service level agreements and supervisors do not conduct oversight checks following completed maintenance work. Reports confirming the lack of Disaster Management in Mangaung confirms the disregard for residents’ safety.

In 2022 the DA tabled a motion for the establishment of a municipal ombudsman office, which was unanimously approved by council, but this has still not been implemented. One of the key functions of the Ombudsman is to have the authority to investigate any service delivery related complaint lodged with the municipality, which remains unresolved for sixty days since being lodged. The DA will now lay a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) regarding the violation of residents’ rights as a result of these sites.

The DA is committed to well-being of all residents and their properties. On the weekend of 3 February, residents of South Africa will have a last chance to register for the upcoming national elections and to vote for better governance in the Free State and Mangaung.

Issued by Dirk Kotze - DA Councillor Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality