Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Benco van Huyssteen
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Naledi Local Municipality is deeply concerned following a workplace accident on Tuesday, 7 October 2025, where two electricians were electrocuted while working on the Vlakfontein municipal power line. Both workers are currently in stable condition in hospital.
This tragic incident underscores the ongoing collapse of Naledi’s municipal systems, particularly in the electrical department where chronic underfunding and poor oversight continue to put employees and residents at risk.
Naledi Municipality is currently operating on an unfunded budget for the 2025/2026 financial year. This reckless decision, repeatedly opposed by the DA, has left departments without the tools, safety equipment, and resources necessary to deliver basic services safely and effectively. The ANC-governed council ignored all warnings about the dangers of approving an unfunded budget and now the consequences are plain to see.
The DA in Naledi has called for an immediate and formal investigation into the incident. The report to Council must determine accountability, identify breaches of safety protocols, and outline what corrective steps have been taken. The DA has also submitted written questions to the Portfolio Chairperson for Infrastructure and Development Planning, Cllr Letshwene (ANC), demanding to know what oversight measures have been implemented and whether repeated warnings from the Electrical Department were ever escalated to Council (see letters here and here).
Naledi’s infrastructure is “hanging by a thread” — the result of years of financial mismanagement and political neglect. Residents continue to suffer through frequent power outages and deteriorating basic services, despite paying their municipal accounts faithfully.
The DA continues to advocate for responsible governance, financial discipline, and properly funded budgets. Where the DA governs, budgets are realistic, service delivery is prioritised, and worker safety is never compromised.