Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Inge Wilken
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matlosana is deeply concerned by the continued failure and poor maintenance of the municipality’s electrical infrastructure, which is severely impacting residents and businesses, particularly in the northern wards earmarked as Matlosana’s emerging business hub.
These areas are plagued by recurring and prolonged power outages, often caused by basic infrastructure failures and delayed maintenance. The consequences are far-reaching, disrupting economic activity, harming businesses and placing households, frail-care facilities, and vulnerable residents at risk due to an unreliable electricity supply.
The situation is worsened by limited operational capacity, with electrical teams currently operating only between 08:00 and 22:00. Faults that occur overnight frequently remain unresolved for extended periods, unnecessarily prolonging outages and increasing hardship for residents and businesses.
While response teams are often dispatched, the municipality’s approach remains largely reactive. Matlosana urgently requires a proactive maintenance strategy, targeted infrastructure upgrades and improved operational capacity to ensure continuity and reliability of electricity supply.
Responsibility for this ongoing failure lies squarely with the ANC governing party in Council, whose inability to plan, maintain and prioritise critical infrastructure continues to hold Matlosana back. Residents and businesses are paying the price for poor governance, lack of foresight and years of neglect.
Reliable electricity is not a luxury but a basic service. Communities in Matlosana deserve leadership that can deliver functional infrastructure and dependable service provision.