Matjhabeng’s mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha, again did not attend a scheduled meeting of the Petitions Committee of the Free State Legislature.
The meeting was held on Wednesday, 22 November, in Bloemfontein.
He was to have provided answers about how the municipality’s nagging water shortages, sewer leaks and overall lack of service delivery would be addressed.
Khalipha was also absent from the Petitions Committee’s meeting in September.
“Khalipa prefers to hide behind the Structure Act and delegate his mayoral committee members (MMCs) to respond on his behalf,” says Armand Cloete, FF Plus member in the Free State Legislature.
The petition was submitted to the legislature in July 2021 after the umpteenth water crisis in the municipality left residents without water for days.
“We demand that the municipality urgently introduce solutions for Matjhabeng’s water and sewage infrastructure. Since Khalipha’s election as mayor, there has been no improvement. His numerous promises remain empty, and the condition of our towns continues to deteriorate daily.”
Sewage continues to flow into the streets and even into people’s homes. Residents are also anxiously awaiting the next water crisis, as has been the case time and time again in the past year.
“We will continue to demand that Khalipha appear before the committee to be held accountable for the service delivery mess in Matjhabeng.”
