Note to broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in Setswana, English and Afrikaans by Portia Burrell
The DA demands urgent action as streetlights in Stilfontein remain non-functional despite several promises from ANC Mayor.
On 17th September, residents of Stilfontein marched to the Matlosana Municipal offices to submit a memorandum of demands regarding service delivery failures, particularly the persistent issue of broken streetlights.
The memorandum, presented to the mayor, called for immediate attention to the long-standing issue that has left many streets in darkness. In response, the mayor indicated that some issues raised by residents did not require formal marches or memoranda. However, he assured the community that urgent matters would be addressed immediately. Despite this assurance, many of these problems, including streetlight repairs, remain unresolved.
The memorandum gave the mayor 30 days to act on all service delivery concerns affecting residents, but so far, little to no progress has been made. The street light issue is not confined to Stilfontein; the entire Matlosana region is grappling with the same challenge. These issues are particularly concerning, as the current mayor was previously a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for the electrical department and should be well aware of the scope of the problem.
The DA calls on the municipality to implement mass lighting solutions that are both cost-effective and sustainable. Rather than repeatedly attempting to repair individual streetlights, we believe that large-scale mass lights would not only reduce repair costs but also ensure more reliable illumination across Matlosana.
The safety and security of communities depend on functioning infrastructure, and the DA is urging the municipality to prioritise this pressing issue without further delay. The deadline for the mayor’s 30-day commitment is fast approaching, and we are prepared to escalate our efforts, if necessary, action is not taken.