Amidst the ongoing strike affecting Matjhabeng, opposition ward councillors within the ANC-controlled municipality have taken extraordinary steps to fight for essential services to be maintained for residents.
Entering its fourth week, these councillors have shouldered the responsibility of reporting and addressing critical infrastructure issues such as water leaks, blocked drains, and electricity outages. Despite the challenging circumstances, they have been working tirelessly to address the needs of their constituents.
“In addition to reporting issues, ward councillors have actively engaged in physical repairs of leaking water pipes and arranged for equipment, such as a tractor-loader backhoe (TLB) and cherry pickers, to fix electrical outages. They have also sought support from businesses and individuals for these efforts.
However, the situation has been compounded by the lack of responsiveness from municipal officials. Calls for assistance to the municipal manager have often gone unanswered, with senior officials deflecting responsibility amidst the strike action,” says Maxie Badenhorst, DA ward councillor.
Badenhorst says recent revelations circulating on social media have shed light on mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha’s disrespectful behaviour towards communities and officials, and his arrogant attitude towards his position.
“A letter detailing these instances highlights derogatory remarks towards community members, and officials, and boasts about his connections within the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. While councillors are tirelessly working to address the ongoing crisis, Mayor Khalipha is seen driving around in cavalcades with multiple vehicles, protected by a contingent of security guards, under the guise of conducting daily municipal imbizos daily,” she says.
Badenhorst says it has become evident that these engagements are being exploited for ANC campaigning purposes ahead of the upcoming national and provincial elections, all at the expense of ratepayers.
“This blatant misuse of municipal resources for political gain further exacerbates the challenges facing Matjhabeng and undermines the trust and confidence of residents in their local government. Such actions must be addressed swiftly and decisively to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and responsible governance,” Badenhorst says.
While the strike and the latest report from the Auditor-General (AG) have brought attention to underlying governance issues within Matjhabeng, including allegations of mismanagement and corruption. It is clear that immediate action is needed to address the deteriorating state of affairs in the Matjhabeng Municipality.
Ward councillors have expressed their frustrations with both the speaker and the municipal manager, pleading for assistance.
“They have emphasised that they cannot be held accountable for the incompetence of the administration or the arrogance of the mayor,” says Badenhorst.
Despite their appeals for support, DA councillors find themselves limited in their ability to effect meaningful change within the municipality. Not even calls through the provincial DA structures to the provincial MEC of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the director-general, or the Head of Department have yielded any positive results, with the only response being that the ANC is handling it.
In the case of Matjhabeng, where DA councillors are going above and beyond to secure assistance from municipal management amidst the ongoing strike, it is evident that their efforts are limited by systemic failures and leadership deficiencies within the municipality.
Despite their best efforts, the responsibility ultimately lies with Khalipha and the municipal manager, who are tasked with overseeing the effective functioning of the municipality.
Communities must understand that the responsibility for addressing the underlying governance issues and ensuring the delivery of essential services rests with the mayor, municipal management, and the ANC-led council as a whole.
Badenhorst says that only through collective accountability and transparent governance can meaningful change be achieved for the benefit of all residents. “Only through collective action and accountability can the municipality be steered back on course towards effective service delivery and accountable governance.”
