ANC government has no appetite to address water challenges in Ratlou

Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbite in English by Freddy Sonakile

The DA has today written to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), requesting an investigation into the failure by the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality to deliver water to residents in the Ratlou Local Municipality.

This follows an oversight inspection to the Setlagole RDP settlements yesterday, where residents informed us that their communal taps have been dry years. (See pictures here and here)

Access to clean potable water should be the norm, however some residents are forced to travel at least a kilometre to get water, ironically at a tap situated just opposite the Ratlou municipal building gates. Residents, mostly use wheelbarrows to cart water to their homes. (See pictures here)

The municipal water trucks only deliver water to this community during funerals. This, despite a newly built, but unused, 5.5 megalitre reservoir completed in 2015 just a short walk from the settlements. (See pictures here)

The communal taps, installed in 2009/10 when the settlements were under construction have not delivered a drop of water for years.

It is deplorable that the Ngaka Modiri Molema Municipality’s motto, ‘Water is our Priority’, has not been realised for Ratlou Residents. Typical of ANC governments, this is just another empty promise.

High-ranking ANC politicians drive into the municipality daily and bear witness to residents queuing for water but does nothing to deliver water. They should hang their heads in shame. They have no conscience and are untouched by this crisis occurring in full view, even though it compromises the well being of the residents.

The indifference shown by the ANC government towards residents is a gross human rights violation.  A DA government will ensure that all households are connected to water network and end water-shedding.

NW Acting Premier admits to irregular appointments to the NW Gambling Board

Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Jacqueline Theologo

Acting Premier Nono Maloyi admitted that he is aware of the alleged irregular and unlawful appointment of Mr Collen Maine to the North West Gambling Board during a questions session in the North West Legislature yesterday. Mr Maine served as president of the ANC Youth League between 2015 and 2019. The North West Gambling Board is an entity of Department of Economic Development Environment and Conservation Tourism (DEDECT).

Acting Premier Maloyi arrogantly informed members of the Legislature that he could not confirm nor deny as to whether any of the board members of the Gambling Board had been vetted or if any security checks were conducted. 

This is the second DEDECT entity marred with allegations of flawed processes in appointments, following the much-publicised irregular appointment of the CFO Mr Mpofu, to the North West Development Corporation.  Mr Mpofu is a Zimbabwean citizen who faces allegations of fraudulently obtaining his working permit in South Africa.

Last week, the DA wrote to the SIU, requesting them to extend their scope of investigation to include appointments within all DEDECT entities, including the Gambling Board. North West SIU Head, Israel Ndou, confirmed that they will look into these matters. 

DEDECT MEC Virginia Thlapi seems to be a habitual offender with irregular appointments and fails to exercise her oversight role. As a former North West ANC Youth League Chair (ANCYL), it appears that she is simply recycling washed-out ANCYL comrades by providing them with employment within her department, like with Mr Maine. This tendency to give jobs to comrades was normalised by her predecessor, MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi, another former ANCYL leader, during her tenure.

Acting Premier Maloyi indicated that he has tasked MEC Thlapi with submitting a report on all these allegations. He further indicated that he would table that report in the Legislature. Once that report is tabled, the DA will refer it to the SIU as part of the expanded investigation process. 

This once again shows that the ANC is hellbent on giving jobs to comrades while almost a million North West residents are unemployed. A vote for the DA this year will put an end to the scourge of cadre deployment. A DA-led government will ensure that appointments are made based on merit, in the service of residents.

NW Municipalities – the worst run in South Africa

te to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbite in English by Freddy Sonakile

The DA notes with concern the 2024 Governance Performance Index (GPI) by Good Governance Africa (GGA), which details an overview of the state of local governance in South Africa. (See the report here)

The report, published annually, considers the performance of municipalities in four categories, namely:

  • Administration and Governance,
  • Leadership and Management,
  • Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and
  • Service Delivery.

Categories are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being optimal performance. The score for North West Municipalities is 2.59, the lowest in the country.

Good Governance Africa measured 205 municipalities throughout the country.

The Madibeng Local Municipality ranked last out of the 19 secondary cities measured in the country, the Mahikeng Local Municipality also came in last out of the 26 large town municipalities, while the Naledi and Maquassi Hills local municipalities were ranked 96 and 97 respectively out of the 99 small town municipalities.

he Kagisano Molopo, Moretele, and Ratlou local municipalities obtained scores of 58, 59, and 60 respectively out of the 61 mostly rural municipalities measured.

The report further indicates that out of 21 Water Service Authorities District Municipalities, the Ngaka Modiri Molema District and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati were the worst performing in the country. Not surprising considering that both district municipalities fail to deliver water to residents, especially in communities of Setlagole, Christiana, Tswaing, and Ditsobotla.

The support by the North West Department of CoGHSTA to municipalities is a failure. All these ANC-governed municipalities continuously fail at governance, financial management and service delivery.

North West municipalities continue to be plagued by irregular appointments, non-compliance breaches, maladministration, fraud, corruption and the fight of ANC factions, collapsing local governance and service delivery.

The poor performance of North West municipalities stands in stark contrast with the scores obtained by DA-governed municipalities. Western Cape municipalities performed the best obtaining a score of 83%, a complete contrast to the North West score of only 49%.

The first step to rescuing South Africa will be to remove the ANC from government on 29 May by voting DA, so that we can restore good governance at a local level that delivers.

DA in Matlosana welcomes High Court decision to suspend contract of Molebogeng Trading Enterprises

Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Johannes le Grange.

The DA in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality is vindicated by the judgement delivered by the High Court, North West Division, Mahikeng, to suspend the contract irregularly awarded to Molebogeng Trading Enterprises cc in December 2023 for refuse removal services. See court’s interdict here.

The City appointed Molebogeng Trading Enterprise to deliver refuse collection services, however, since the R75 million contract was awarded, regular refuse collection services have all but ceased and are erratic at best.

Under the contract, Molebogeng Trading Enterprise was obligated to provide 10 refuse removal trucks in good working condition by 15 December 2023, requiring 10 additional new refuse trucks to be brought into operation three months within the contract period, and another six trucks at the five-month mark.

To date, only two trucks have been made available for refuse removal.

CFO Phetla was arrested earlier this year on charges of tender fraud and the ANC has abused their majority vote to keep her in office, despite the serious allegations against her.

The CFO has recently moved the Director of Community Safety, Jemina Masilo, to another department and took it upon herself to deal with Molebogeng to send refuse removal trucks to the municipality’s service providers for repairs.

While the ANC remains determined to implement its cadre deployment policy to promote corruption, Matlosana residents are denied the basic services they are entitled to.

At the moment, the municipality only has six functional trucks working trying to remove refuse, adding to the overtime wage bill, money the municipality does not have.

According to the court’s interdict, Matlosana must immediately implement the necessary steps to urgently procure temporary refuse trucks to deliver services to the community. The municipality also has 30 days from the date of the interdict to deliver documents on the evaluation, adjudication and award of Molebogeng to the court.

The DA will submit written questions to Mayor James Tsolela on the contract with Molebogeng in next week’s Council meeting. We have also written to the Municipal Manager, Lesego Seametso, requesting that she table to Council a status report on the temporary rental of six trucks as indicated in the court’s interdict. See letter here.

A DA government will make cadre deployment a criminal offense. On 29 May this year, residents can once and for all end cadre deployment and corruption by voting for the DA, a party with a proven track record of good governance and prioritising the needs of residents.

Montshioastadt Health Centre requires urgent intervention

Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbite in English and by Freddy Sonakile

The DA submitted a letter to North West MEC of Health, Madoda Sambatha, requesting his intervention at Montshioastadt Health Centre in Mahikeng. This follows an oversight inspection we conducted at the primary healthcare facility. See letter here.

The centre requires urgent intervention to address serious problems with blocked drainage pipes, structurally compromised roofing, dysfunctional ablution facilities, and loose floor tiles. (See pictures hereherehere and here , here and here)

In a bid to alleviate overcrowding at the facility, a temporary building was made available a few years ago, but is now in state of neglect, and is too small to accommodate the increasing number of patients. This additional space does not have a functional air conditioning system, forcing patients to squeeze in for consultations, counselling and the collection of chronic medicine under unhygienic conditions.

The back-up generator is not yet operational. During our oversight inspection, scheduled loadshedding kicked in, but the generator died two minutes in.

The maternity unit is in a dire state, with old, dilapidated beds and curtains. (See pictures herehere and here.) The facility’s three geysers are all broken leaving the facility without any hot water.

The DA Western Cape Government delivers quality medical services in state-of-the-art facilities. North West residents can vote for quality public health care on 29 May 2024 by voting DA.

DA North West calls for emergency drought assistance to safeguard food security

Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Carin Visser MP.

The North West is currently experiencing a severe drought further exacerbated by persistent heatwave conditions that are threatening crops, livestock operations and impacting water availability.

These prevailing conditions coupled with rising input costs and loadshedding are threatening the business viability of commercial farming operations and will have a disastrous impact on small and subsistence farmers who contribute immensely towards food security and pushing back hunger and malnutrition in communities throughout the North West.

To ensure food security and to assist the entire agriculture sector, the DA has written to Acting Premier Nono Maloyi, requesting him to immediately declare the province a drought disaster. See letter to Premier here.

Last week, we tabled a motion in the NCOP for emergency assistance to support commercial, small, emerging and subsistence farmers to limit the impact of the drought on the agricultural sector. See motion here.

It is vital that farmers are supported to safeguard food security.

Failure to support the North West agriculture sector will put the entire value chain at risk and will result in job losses.

Concerns were recently raised in the NCOP about the North West government’s failure to support farmers during the extensive veldfire season last year which destroyed about 1,4 million hectares of land, resulting in the loss of life, livestock and game.

Farmers were left to fight fires by themselves as Working on Fire could not respond effectively to calls for help because the government had failed to make the necessary resources available to the organisation.

Grazing could not recover fully from last year’s fire season and the prevailing drought will severely limit the grazing availability which will result in farmers having to reduce their herds. Farmers do not have the financial capacity to purchase and transport fodder from afar.

We demand that Premier Maloyi, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre along with the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Committee follow the required processes and procedures for disaster relief in collaboration with National Treasury to support farmers and limit the impact of the drought.

The required resources for Working with Fire should also be immediately made available as we approach this year’s veldfire season.

Farmers play a vital role in South Africa as agriculture is essential to supporting economic growth, decreasing poverty and ensuring food security in the country.

North West residents have the opportunity on 29 May this year to kick out the ANC and vote in a DA government that will support the argi-sector to ensure food security by ensuring equitable access to water, electricity and access to markets, which will reduce food inflation driving back poverty and not only prevent job losses, but create new jobs within the sector, driving back unemployment.

But above all, our government will not have to be begged to step up and support farmers when disaster strikes. We will fully capacitate disaster management services to effectively respond to calls for help in real time.

DA Noordwes vra vir nooddroogtebystand om voedselsekerheid te beskerm

Nota aan omroepers: Vind asseblief gekoppelde klankgrepe in Engels en Afrikaans deur Carin Visser LP.

Noordwes beleef tans ’n ernstige droogte wat verder vererger word deur aanhoudende hittegolftoestande wat oeste en veebedrywighede bedreig en waterbeskikbaarheid beïnvloed.

Hierdie heersende toestande, tesame met stygende insetkoste en beurtkrag, bedreig die lewensvatbaarheid van kommersiële boerderybedrywighede en sal ’n rampspoedige impak hê op klein- en bestaansboere wat ’n geweldige bydra lewer tot voedselsekerheid en om hongersnood en wanvoeding in gemeenskappe regoor Noordwes terug te stoot.

Om voedselsekerheid te verseker en om die hele landbousektor by te staan, het die DA aan die waarnemende premier Nono Maloyi geskryf en hom versoek om die provinsie dadelik as ‘n droogte-ramp te verklaar. Sien brief aan premier hier.

Ons het verlede week ‘n mosie in die Nasionale Raad van Provinsies ter tafel gelê vir noodbystand om kommersiële, klein, opkomende en bestaansboere te ondersteun om die impak van die droogte op die landbousektor te beperk. Sien mosie hier.

Dit is noodsaaklik dat boere ondersteun word om voedselsekerheid te beskerm.

Versuim om die Noordwes-landbousektor te ondersteun, sal die hele agri-waardeketting in gevaar stel en sal werksverliese tot gevolg hê.

Kommer is onlangs in die Nasionale Raad van Provinsies voorgelê oor die Noordwes-regering se versuim om boere te ondersteun tydens die uitgebreide veldbrandseisoen verlede jaar wat sowat 1,4 miljoen hektaar beweiding vernietig het, wat tot lewensverlies asook die verlies van vee en wild gelei het.

Boere is oorgelaat om self brande te bestry aangesien Working on Fire nie doeltreffend op oproepe om hulp kon reageer nie omdat die regering versuim het om die nodige hulpbronne aan die organisasie beskikbaar te stel.

Weiding kon nie ten volle herstel van verlede jaar se veldbrande nie en die heersende droogte sal die weidingsbeskikbaarheid erg beperk wat daartoe sal lei dat boere hul kuddes sal moet verklein. Boere het ook nie die finansiële vermoë om voer van ver af aan te koop en te vervoer nie.

Ons eis dat premier Maloyi, die provinsiale rampbestuursentrum saam met die nasionale departement van landbou, grondhervorming en landelike ontwikkelingskomitee die vereiste prosesse en prosedures vir ramphulp in samewerking met nasionale tesourie volg om boere te ondersteun en die impak van die droogte te beperk.

Die nodige hulpbronne vir Working on Fire moet ook onmiddellik beskikbaar gestel word soos ons vanjaar se veldbrandseisoen nader.

Boere speel ‘n belangrike rol in Suid-Afrika aangesien landbou noodsaaklik is om ekonomiese groei te ondersteun, armoede te verminder en voedselsekerheid in die land te verseker.

Noordwes-inwoners het op 29 Mei vanjaar die geleentheid om die ANC uit te skop en ’n DA-regering in te stem wat die argi-sektor sal ondersteun om voedselsekerheid te verseker deur billike toegang tot water, elektrisiteit en markte te verseker, wat voedselinflasie sal verminder en wat armoede sal terug dryf en nie net werksverliese voorkom nie, maar nuwe werksgeleenthede binne die sektor te skep en sodoende werkloosheid terug te dryf.

Bowenal, sal ons regering nie gesmeek hoef te word om op te tree en boere te ondersteun wanneer ’n ramp tref nie. Ons sal rampbestuursdienste ten volle in staat stel om doeltreffend te reageer op oproepe om hulp.

DEDECT MEC must account for irregular appointments in NWDC

Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Jacqueline Theologo

The MEC of the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism (DEDECT), Virginia Tlhapi, must answer to the irregular appointments in the North West Development Corporation (NWDC).

The DA welcomes the investigation into the appointment of the CFO of the NWDC, Mr. Mpofu, a Zimbabwean citizen, who is accused of fraudulently obtaining his working permit in South Africa.

We believe that several other appointments, including the appointment of the CEO of the NWDC, Mr. Mojalefa Nale, did not follow due process.

In 2015, Mr. Nale was placed on special leave when he was investigated for misconduct. After that, he was appointed as Acting HOD, Chief Director of the department’s Integrated Economic Development Services, Acting Chief Operations Officer of NWDC, Shareholder Representative, as well as several other senior management positions in departments and entities in the North West Province.

He was re-appointed CEO of NWDC in January this year, and his legacy of running things into the ground seems to be standing.

The DA has raised numerous questions in the Portfolio Committee on oversight over the Departments of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Agriculture, and Rural Development in relation to the appointments of the NWDC board and executive management, as well as their subsidiaries.  However, both MEC Tlhapi and the former MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi, never responded and never submitted the requested documentation.

The NWDC has been a dismal failure, year after year not meeting their targets but spending the budget with no positive outcomes, as also reported in the annual report by the Auditor General (AG).

The DA also previously suggested that the NWDC should be dissolved, and the roles and responsibilities should go back to DEDECT so that the MEC can account directly as the Executive Authority.

The NWDC has become a job creating agency, where the ANC policy of cadre deployment has destroyed this entity.

The role played by both MECs must be investigated and if found to be part and parcel of the irregular appointments, must be held accountable and ordered pay the cost personally that was incurred during the irregular appointments.

We have written to the SIU requesting them to extend their investigation to include all the senior management appointments at the NWDC, the North West Gambling Board, the Parks and Tourism Board and their subsidiaries.

Mayor Molefe shows total disdain to thirsty Magogoe residents

Note to Broadcasters: Please find a linked soundbite in English by Freddy Sonakile MPL.

Residents of Magogoe Village in the Mahikeng Local Municipality approached the DA, requesting our assistance in their ongoing struggle to have their homes connected to the water supply network. Many residents paid roughly R4000.00 to the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality out of their own pockets for this service, yet to date, not a single connection has been made.

We previously wrote to the Municipal Manager (MM), Alan Losaba, demanding that the homes must either be connected to the water reticulation system and that residents should be reimbursed for the monies they’ve paid. MM Losaba responded, but never took any action to either connect residents to the water supply network or the reimbursements.

Several communal water tanks throughout Magogoe have been left dry for months, forcing residents to either walk long distances to access water or have to buy it at a high cost.

The district municipality’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Khumalo Molefe, then promised to address the Magogoe community on the water challenges but failed to show up. This left the mostly elderly residents disappointed and angry.

The DA took the plight of Magogoe residents to the North West Provincial Legislature and tabled a motion calling on the provincial government to intervene, however, even here the ANC-led government and its MECs showed little interest.

We then gave notice on 15 Feburay 2024 under Gatherings Act that we would march today, Friday, 15 March 2024, with Magogoe residents to the municipal offices to submit a memorandum to Mayor Molefe demanding his immediate intervention.

Unfortunately, we had to postpone the march because Mayor Khumalo delayed the application. He purposefully delayed providing confirmation that he will receive our memorandum or delegate another member of his executive do so. He only provided this confirmation yesterday afternoon, a day before we intended to march.

We will resubmit our notice to the district municipality to march with Magogoe residents. Mayor Khumalo must be ashamed for treating elderly residents with such contempt.

Access to water is a constitutional right and the district is shamelessly violating this right of the Magogoe community.

A DA government will prioritise funding for water infrastructure maintenance and encourage private investment in water infrastructure projects to ensure that all communities have access to clean and safe water.

This year, residents have the opportunity to vote for the DA to rescue South Africa from the ongoing water crisis brought on by the ANC government.

A vote for the DA is a vote for continuous access to clean running water.

Madibeng’s adjustment budget fails to prioritise water challenges

Note to Broadcasters: Please find a linked soundbite in English by Cllr Nkateko Mabunda.

The Madibeng Executive Mayor, Cllr Douglas Maimane, tabled an unfunded and unrealistic adjustment budget that failed to address the persistent water challenges faced by residents.

Mayor Maimane indicated in his presentation on the adjustment budget a proposed collection rate above 50% for water and sanitation services rendered, however, this proposed income stands in conflict with the mere 15% collection rate as presented in the mid-term report. The Mayor was adamant that the real collection rate was above 50% and that the figures in the mid-term report were incorrect due to faulty water meters. This is exactly how the ANC government inflates revenue collection to pass unfunded budgets.

Residents in Madidi Village and Phasha Maloka have not seen a drop of water in their taps since the beginning of the year, while residents in Brits and Hartbeespoort often go without access to water for days on end due to dilapidated infrastructure. Residents throughout Madibeng have for years experienced regular water shortages.

The adjustment budget seeks to reallocate R14 million from the community services line item to fleet management with R8 million allocated towards paying the lease for the rental fleet. Community services include refuse removal, waste management, park maintenance, sports and development, moving funding away from these functions will negatively impact these services. However, the under-expenditure that accommodates the adjustment to fleet management proves that the municipality fails to deliver these services to residents.

Considering the serious water crisis facing residents, more funding should have been allocated towards improving water and sanitation services.

Only about 15% of Madibeng residents receive a constant supply of clean piped water, as per the statistics in Madibeng’s annual report. It was a shame when STATS SA indicated in its 2022 Census Report that 39% of residents have access to piped water inside their homes, 30% have access to piped water inside their yards, 10% of residents have communal tap access, while 18% of residents have no access to piped water. These statistics clearly indicate the water crisis residents have to endure and strengthen our argument that more funding should be allocated to improve water supply services.

The ANC-led Madibeng government has once again deliberately failed to prioritise the needs of residents.

The DA raised these concerns and will table a motion at the next Council meeting to bring adjustments to the budget that would improve service delivery, specifically in water and sanitation services.

The ANC is no longer interested in serving the residents of Madibeng.

On 29 May 2024, residents will have an opportunity to kick the uncaring ANC out of government and vote in a DA-led government that will rescue municipalities like Madibeng from failed governance. Only a DA-led government can ensure that water and sanitation infrastructure is maintained to deliver clean water and dignified sanitation services to all residents.