Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English, Afrikaans and Setswana by Portia Burrell
The Democratic Alliance (DA) urges the Municipality of Matlosana to urgently address the ongoing crises of overgrown grass, sewer overflows, and collapsed drainage systems, which are endangering residents’ health and safety. These issues have remained unresolved for years, despite multiple complaints and oversight inspections.
The municipality has failed its residents through negligence, lack of accountability, and poor service delivery, betraying the trust of the community and misusing taxpayer funds. For years, problems such as sinkholes caused by negligent work from the Water Department, continue to affect residents who are left stranded, unable to access their driveways due to large, abandoned holes, while the municipality’s inaction wastes millions in repairs. Despite consistent reporting, follow-ups, and oversight inspections by councillors, these issues remain unresolved.
Overgrown grass, left uncut for years, is often burned in winter, creating hazardous conditions, while sewer systems are perpetually overflowing, with weeks passing before the municipality takes action to resolve these crises, causing unhygienic and unsafe environments. Collapsed drainage systems, damaged by unqualified contractors, further highlight the municipality’s negligence and poor planning. (See pictures here, here, here, here, and here).
Additionally, municipal directors treat councillors with disrespect and ignore their responsibility to serve the community. The funds that should be allocated to addressing residents’ outcries are instead wasted on frivolous projects. Instead of fixing infrastructure or improving services, the municipality prioritizes hosting parties, renting big screens for sports events, and organizing conferences outside of Matlosana.
The DA urges the residents of Matlosana to rise and do the right thing – make their voices heard, demand accountability, and call for a change in leadership. Only by removing the current governing party can we hope to restore dignity, functionality, and pride in our municipality.
Together, we can build a Matlosana that serves its people and secures a better future for all.