- Matjhabeng Municipality’s failure to respond to emergency situations is posing a threat
- We are deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of service delivery in Matjhabeng – Maxie Badenhorst
- A blocked drain caused raw sewerage to overflow directly in front of a restaurant in Hennenman
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Poor service delivery and the Matjhabeng Municipality’s failure to respond to emergency situations is posing a threat to jobs in the already fragile economy, where almost 40% of residents are unemployed.
So says Maxie Badenhorst, DA councillor in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality.
“We are deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of service delivery in Matjhabeng, particularly the preferential procurement of service providers that has resulted in prolonged delays and inadequate solutions. The lack of control and mismanagement of service delivery is unacceptable and demands urgent attention,” she says.
Badenhorst says a recent incident highlighted the severe consequences.
A business owner in Hertzog Street, Hennenman, reported a blocked drain that caused raw sewerage to overflow directly in front of his restaurant. The unbearable stench forced customers to cancel reservations, resulting in a significant financial loss.
A nearby residential property was surrounded by raw sewage, forcing the resident to confine her children indoors to protect them from the hazardous conditions. Tragically, the family pet died shortly after, likely due to consuming the contaminated water.
Multiple requests for assistance were submitted to the director of infrastructure and the municipal manager. It took the municipality more than two weeks to address the issue, because of the executive mayor’s decision to exclude certain companies from procurement.
These companies are colloquially known as the Big 6.
“Instead, sub-standard companies with inadequate equipment were contracted, further exacerbating the problem,” she says.
Only when Badenhorst took it upon herself to procure the services of one of these companies, and offering to cover the cost from her own pocket, did the municipality agree to pay the bill and allow the company to resolve the issue promptly. Within hours of their arrival, the blockage was cleared, and the problems were resolved.
“We remain committed to ensuring that the municipality upholds its responsibilities, supports local businesses, and provides necessary services to the community,” she says.
