Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Soret Viljoen
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tswaing is outraged by the ongoing electricity blackouts that have plunged Ottosdal, Delareyville, and Sannieshof into crisis and further exposed the total collapse of governance in the Tswaing Local Municipality.
Residents and businesses in Ottosdal have been left desperate and furious after being without power for five consecutive days, the second multi-day blackout in November. The impact on the town’s economy, essential services, and daily life has been severe.
The same happened to Driekant Plots in Delareyville. Due to a lack of maintenance, ten poles in the area broke like sticks after the recent rain.
The DA has formally written to the MEC for COGTA, Oageng Molapisi, calling for immediate intervention into the administrative and governance crisis in Tswaing.
The DA in Tswaing will also write to Mayor Norah Mahlangu, Acting MM Boorman Phutiagae, Technical Director Thabo Meerken and CFO Johannes Mogoemang to prioritise the appointment of a team with electrical expertise to come and evaluate the electrical network of all three towns and do maintenance and upgrades accordingly
With no electricity, residents are unable to withdraw cash from ATMs, the local bakery has been forced to halt operations, the Old Age Homes are struggling, and households and businesses remain in total darkness.
Most residents have also been without water since last week Wednesday, compounding the humanitarian strain.
Ottosdal’s electrical network has deteriorated to a point of complete failure. The infrastructure is old, neglected, and has not received proper maintenance for years. The town’s ring feed, reported faulty since 2011, remains unrepaired. Both Delareyville and Sannieshof recently had a transformer explosion where electricians were severely injured, and one was airlifted to Milpark Hospital to be treated for severe burn wounds. He was hospitalised for more than a month.
To deepen the crisis, service providers are refusing to assist the municipality due to unpaid invoices, a direct consequence of Tswaing’s collapsing finances and chronic mismanagement. Despite being under Section 139(5) intervention since August 2021, the municipality has shown no meaningful improvement. National Treasury has already warned that the next tranche of Tswaing’s equitable share may be withheld due to ongoing financial mismanagement.
The DA in Tswaing strongly condemns the fact that residents and businesses continue to pay the price for failed leadership and non-existent service delivery.
Residents in Ottosdal, Sannieshof, and Delareyville deserve a municipality that works, delivers, and protects their livelihoods. The DA will continue to fight tirelessly for accountability, transparency, and reliable services for all communities in Tswaing.