Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Setswana by Barnard Manne
The residents of Letlhabile and the broader Madibeng area continue to suffer due to failing infrastructure and municipal neglect. The DA calls on the Madibeng Local Municipality to take immediate action to restore essential services and address these pressing issues before conditions deteriorate further. The deteriorating state of Letlhabile’s cemeteries and the ongoing water crisis highlight the failure of the municipality to provide essential services.
The Letlhabile old cemetery has become an overgrown bush, with no fencing, ablution facilities, or a clear entrance. Families struggle to locate and maintain their loved ones’ graves, making it nearly impossible to install tombstones or perform cultural rituals. The municipality, despite the cemetery reaching full capacity, remains responsible for its upkeep. This neglect has left many residents disconnected from their heritage. (See picture here).
The newer Letlhabile cemetery, established six years ago and already at 70% capacity, is also in a dire state. The concrete fence is partially damaged, the ablution facilities are in poor condition, and there is no running water for mourners. This lack of facilities disproportionately affects women, while men are often forced to relieve themselves in the surrounding bushes. (See pictures here, here, here, and here).
During last week’s Community Services Portfolio Committee meeting, Director Ms. Nelly Kole-Rampete and MMC Lindiwe Mhlambi committed to requesting a R5 million budget from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to maintain all 37 cemeteries in Madibeng. The DA will closely monitor their progress and demand that Letlhabile’s old cemetery be included in this allocation.
Meanwhile, Letlhabile residents continue to endure a severe water crisis, violating their constitutional right to sufficient water as enshrined in Section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution. Last week, Centreville residents took to the streets in protest, as they and other parts of Madibeng have been without water for nearly two weeks. The municipality has failed to provide meaningful updates, offering only a vague Facebook notice about the water shortage. This blatant disregard for residents’ basic needs is unacceptable. (See picture here).
The DA will engage the Director and MMC of Infrastructure & Technical Services to demand immediate action on the water crisis. Residents cannot be expected to live without access to clean water, a fundamental necessity.
The DA remains committed to ensuring the residents of Letlhabile receive the services they are constitutionally entitled to and will continue to advocate for improved infrastructure and water provision.