The DA will hold the Matjhabeng Local Municipality accountable for its actions regarding the exorbitant expenditure of over R200 million on fleet purchases since 2021.
Maxie Badenhorst, DA councillor, says that despite submitting questions to the municipal manager, Lonwabo Ngoqo, on 22 July, they failed to provide answers at the ordinary council meeting on 29 August, as required by the council’s rules and orders.
“Accordingly, the questions must be submitted ten days before a council meeting to ensure they are included in the agenda. Not only were these questions not addressed during the meeting, despite the request for an immediate response, the municipal manager undertook to provide answers ‘as soon as possible.’ It has now been two weeks, and no reply has been forthcoming,” Badenhorst said.
“The refusal to answer these questions suggests that the administration of Matjhabeng is unwilling or unable to provide clarity on this critical matter. It is deeply concerning that while our residents endure daily hardships like prolonged water and electricity outages, untreated sewage, and the lack of basic materials to address service delivery, the municipality is spending millions on new fleet vehicles. These vehicles cannot be fully utilised due to the lack of competent staff to operate them,” she said.
The questions that remain unanswered include clarity on the total amount spent on fleet purchases since November 2021, details on the procurement process and budget allocations for these purchases, and the municipality’s plans to address staff shortages to operate the equipment.
“We want justification for this expenditure when essential services remain neglected. The public deserves transparency and accountability from the municipality. We will continue to demand answers until these critical issues are addressed,” said Badenhorst.
After an urgent multi-party caucus on Thursday, 26 September, it became evident that Vaal Central Water is not complying with the court order to stop all water restrictions to the Matjhabeng Municipality.
According to a statement released after the meeting, “The lack of communication and cooperation in resolving the current restriction of water supply is indicative of their disregard for human rights. Ministerial intervention is underway and further briefings in this regard will commence on 27 September, including discussions to enforce the court order and restore proper water supply to communities.”
Badenhorst says it is unacceptable for Matjhabeng to prioritise extravagant purchases while basic service delivery continues to collapse.
“Residents have a right to know how their money is being spent and why vital resources for fixing burst pipes, street lights, and broken water meters are not available. The people of Matjhabeng deserve leadership that is open, transparent, and committed to service delivery,” said Badenhorst.
