Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Cornel Dreyer.
The DA in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality is concerned with the municipality’s deliberate lack of planning for the regular maintenance of sewerage infrastructure in Mahikeng and Mmabatho which now resulted in the irregular spending of R4 million under the Emergency Procurement Regulation 36.
The historical dysfunctionality of the Mahikeng and Mmabatho wastewater treatment plants saw millions of litres of raw sewage flow into the Setumo Reservoir and the Molopo River system.
Recently, a Mahikeng sewage spill resulted in the hospitalisation of a few residents living near Bay Road due to overexposure to the toxic sewage gasses and the pollution of the Setumo Reservoir killed hundreds of fish.
Had the Ngaka Modiri District Municipality effectively conducted regular planned maintenance at these wastewater treatment plants, there would be no need to circumvent standard supply chain regulations.
The DA has previously written to the Ngaka Modiri Municipal Manager Allan Losaba and Mayor Khumalo Molefe requesting an update on the maintenance and service contracts awarded to Proper Consulting Engineers (PCE) which vacated the Mahikeng and Mmabatho wastewater treatment plants due to non-payment by the district municipality.
PCE has since 2021 submitted comprehensive reports to Ngaka Modiri indicating urgent repairs and upgrades to the infrastructure, including the approximately 6km pipeline and 17 pump stations to the pipeline servicing the plants.
To date, none of the indicated repairs or upgrades have been done, which created regular blockages that caused massive sewage spills within residential areas along the pipeline.
To date, despite spending R4 million, no improvements at both wastewater treatment plants and the sewerage network can be seen.
We have again written to Mayor Molefe and Municipal Manager Losaba, requesting an urgent response and update on the appointment of contractors, the different areas of responsibility between the district and local municipalities, the absence of a service provider at the Mahikeng and Mmabatho wastewater treatment plants to conduct regular maintenance and operations, and the consideration of replacing the sewerage pipeline at a cost of R65 million.
We also insist that a service-level agreement and memorandum of understanding be entered into between the local municipalities with the Ngaka Modiri district to coordinate maintenance of sewerage bulk infrastructure and its operations adequately.
Residents can change their circumstances for the better by registering to vote DA in next year’s election for a government that will deliver proper health and sanitation services.