Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cornél Dreyer
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Zeerust has written to the Mayor of the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality (RMLM), Dina Pitso and the Municipal Manager, Mr. Izaac Mokgatlhe to urgently address the ongoing and devastating vandalisation of electricity infrastructure within the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality . (See letter here.)
The substations repeatedly targeted by criminals are well known to the Municipality. Yet, despite this knowledge, these critical facilities remain unfenced, unsecured, unmonitored, and unprotected. This neglect has left our infrastructure exposed, resulting in repeated service disruptions that devastate households and businesses.
Equally alarming is the Municipality’s failure to maintain emergency stock or equipment. Repairs only begin once infrastructure has already been vandalised, leading to prolonged outages and unacceptable delays in restoring electricity.
This reactive approach directly contravenes the Municipality’s legislated and constitutional obligations:
- Section 152 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 obliges municipalities to ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner.
- Section 73 of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000 requires municipalities to give effect to the Constitution by providing services that are equitable, accessible, and efficient.
- The failure to secure substations and maintain emergency resources undermines the constitutional right to dignity (Section 10) and security of the person (Section 12), as residents are left vulnerable to crime when alarms and electric fences fail during outages.
- The right to sufficient food (Section 27) is compromised when refrigeration fails, leading to food losses that disproportionately affect marginalized households.
The consequences of these failures are severe. Families suffer financial losses due to spoiled food, while communities face heightened crime risks during outages. This situation is intolerable and represents a clear transgression of the Municipality’s constitutional and statutory duties.
The DA calls the leadership of RMLM to act decisively and immediately:
- Secure and monitor all substations.
- Establish preventative measures, including fencing and surveillance.
- Maintain emergency stock and equipment to ensure rapid response to vandalisation.
Without urgent intervention, the cycle of vandalisation, prolonged outages, and community suffering will persist, further eroding public trust and violating the rights of our residents.