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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tokologo Local Municipality extends its heartfelt condolences to the Mokoena and Gaebee families, who tragically lost their loved ones in a devastating fire that engulfed a house in Malebogo, Hertzogville.

The victims resided in Staanplek, a newly formalised settlement in Malebogo. The ANC hastily converted this informal settlement into stands shortly before the local government elections in 2021, using it as an electioneering ploy. However, two years later, the area still suffers from a lack of basic services. The stands remain unregistered in the occupants' names, and there are no proper house numbers or visible streets. The majority of the community in the area is unemployed, with some working seasonally on nearby farms.

Compounding these challenges is that this municipality has no firefighting services. The ANC-led government has delegated this crucial service to the Lejweleputswa District Municipality located in Welkom.

The district municipality also shows no intention of bringing fire-fighting services closer to Tokologo in the foreseeable future, as evident in their District Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and district development model. Tokologo has previously experienced devastating fires, including the one that ravaged thousands of hectares of farmland, claiming game and livestock in 2020.

The DA will take immediate action by tabling a motion to address the lack of basic services, including the urgent need for a functioning fire department, to prevent any further tragedies from occurring.

Issued by Hismajesty Maqhubu - DA Councillor Tokologo Local Municipality