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The Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality Budget and Integrated Development Plan, as expected, fails to adequately address the issue of basic services for the poorest of the poor.

It is important to note that the National Government provides a grant for free basic services based on the number of indigent households registered in a municipality. However, the MaP16-led municipality has halted its plan to register these households because the ward committees found the proposed compensation unacceptable.

This decision has affected the poorest members of the community, who rely on these free basic services for survival. The lack of access to water, sanitation, and electricity directly results from this oversight. As a consequence, their health, hygiene, and overall quality of life are adversely affected. This situation is unacceptable, and it is our duty as a community to address it.

The DA is therefore launching a petition to highlight this issue and demand that Mayor Gilbert Mokotso demonstrates sympathy for the poor and presents a comprehensive plan to address this problem. We call on all members of the community to support this petition and take action to ensure that the municipality takes responsibility for providing free basic services to the poorest of the poor.

We cannot ignore the suffering of our fellow community members who rely on these essential services for their survival. It is time for the municipality of MaP to fulfil its obligation to its citizens and provide free basic services to those who need them most. We urge all concerned citizens to sign our petition and join us in holding representatives accountable for their actions.

Issued by Ana Motaung - DA Councillor Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality