Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Carin Visser, and in Setswana by Ratang Molao, Cllr in Moretele Local Municipality.
- 50 residents live without electricity at the Reivilo hostel.
- Raw sewage and inadequate ablutions pose serious health and dignity concerns.
- DA is escalating the matter to the MEC, SAHRC and Greater Taung Municipality.
The DA will write to the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, calling for urgent provincial intervention and a written response outlining what action will be taken and within what timeframe.
The DA will also lodge formal complaints with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) or regarding the potential infringement of residents’ constitutional rights, given the unacceptable living conditions and their impact on human dignity, adequate housing, access to basic services and a safe living environment.
Approximately 50 residents live at the municipal hostel, which belongs to the municipality following its transfer from National Co-operative Dairies (NCD). The residents include unemployed people, elderly residents and grandchildren.
Despite residents reportedly continuing to pay rent to the municipality, the hostel has no electricity supply.
During the DA’s oversight visit, serious concerns were identified regarding the communal ablution facilities. Residents have access to only one toilet, while the bathroom has no door or windows.
Even more concerning was the presence of raw, untreated sewage surrounding the premises, with leaking sewerage infrastructure creating an unacceptable sanitation situation and potentially serious public health and environmental risks.
The DA also raised concerns about the structural condition of the hostel, including the roof and walls. These concerns must be assessed by appropriately qualified building inspectors to establish whether the building is safe for continued occupation, particularly during severe weather conditions.
The MEC must also account for the rental arrangements and explain what residents are paying for while living under these conditions.
A municipality cannot expect residents to pay rent while failing to provide safe and habitable living conditions.
These conditions are not simply a matter of poor maintenance. They reflect a failure to provide basic municipal services and to maintain infrastructure that residents depend on every day.
Functional municipalities are also essential to economic development. Where infrastructure is neglected, basic services fail, and communities cannot rely on their municipality, investment and job creation suffer. Municipalities must maintain roads and infrastructure, provide reliable water, electricity and sanitation, and create an environment in which businesses can invest and employment opportunities can grow.
As the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections approach, residents have an opportunity to demand municipalities that actually work for them.
The DA will continue to use oversight and every available accountability mechanism to ensure that the conditions identified at Reivilo hostel are not ignored.
The residents of Reivilo deserve more than promises. They deserve safe living conditions, reliable basic services and a municipality that takes responsibility.