Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Theo Gerber
Swift action by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Lekwa-Teemane yesterday prevented what could have been a major fibre optic outage affecting residents and businesses across Christiana.
At 08:05 on 1 December 2025, the municipal Technical Manager contacted me requesting urgent assistance in arranging a TLB for the sewer team to repair a burst high-pressure sewer line. I immediately secured the TLB, which arrived on site at approximately 08:45, and I joined the team shortly thereafter.
Upon inspecting the area, it became clear that a fibre optic manhole had been installed directly on top of the sewer line, a dangerous and irresponsible placement that posed a severe risk to critical communications infrastructure. The initial municipal plan was to remove the manhole using the TLB, a move that would almost certainly have severed the main fibre line supplying Christiana.
Recognising the danger, I urgently contacted the owner of the fibre maintenance company and requested immediate on-site support. I also instructed the municipal supervisor to halt all operations until fibre specialists could intervene. Within minutes, a fibre technician arrived and began engaging with the repair team.
Following a joint assessment, the teams agreed on a safe and responsible solution: excavate around the manhole, disassemble it piece by piece, and remove it without disturbing the fibre cables. This coordinated approach successfully prevented a major outage that would have disrupted communication services throughout Christiana (see photos here, here, and here).
This incident again exposes the ongoing lack of capacity and oversight within the municipal administration. Without proper supervision, essential infrastructure would have been recklessly damaged with residents left to bear the consequences of avoidable service disruptions.
The Democratic Alliance will continue to defend service delivery from poor planning and mismanagement. We remain committed to holding the municipality accountable and safeguarding critical infrastructure across Lekwa-Teemane.