Please find attached soundbites in English by Maritha Coetzee, Afrikaans by Maritha Coetzee, and Setswana by Ratang Molao.
The Democratic Alliance in Matlosana is concerned about the continuous and prolonged electricity interruptions affecting residents and businesses on smallholdings across the Matlosana area.
For an extended period, residents have been subjected to recurring power outages, voltage fluctuations, and delayed responses to electricity-related faults. These interruptions are causing significant inconvenience and financial losses for agricultural producers, small businesses, home-based enterprises, and families who rely on a stable electricity supply.
Many affected smallholding owners depend on electricity for water pumps, security systems, refrigeration, irrigation equipment, and other essential infrastructure. Frequent outages compromise food production, threaten livestock and agricultural operations, and increase the risk of crime due to non-functional security measures.
It is unacceptable that residents who pay for municipal services continue to endure an unreliable electricity supply without clear communication regarding the causes of interruptions or timelines for repairs and maintenance.
The DA therefore calls on the City of Matlosana to:
- Conduct an urgent investigation into the root causes of recurring power disruptions affecting smallholdings.
- Provide residents with transparent and regular updates on faults, repairs and planned maintenance.
- Strengthen maintenance programmes for ageing electricity infrastructure.
- Allocate the necessary resources to ensure rapid response times when outages are reported.
- Develop a long-term infrastructure improvement plan to prevent recurring interruptions and ensure a stable electricity supply.
Reliable electricity is not a luxury; it is a basic requirement for economic activity, public safety, and a reasonable quality of life. Continued failures to provide a stable electricity supply undermine productivity, erode public trust and place unnecessary strain on residents already facing economic challenges.
The DA will continue to engage affected residents, raise these concerns in council and hold the municipality accountable until lasting solutions are implemented. Residents are urged to continue reporting outages and documenting incidents to help build a comprehensive record of the ongoing challenges.
The people of Matlosana deserve a municipality that prioritises service delivery, maintains its infrastructure and responds swiftly to residents’ needs. Reliable electricity is essential to keeping businesses operating, supporting investment and creating jobs.
Only the DA is big enough to beat the ANC. Residents have the power to vote DA on 4 November 2026 for a government that delivers reliable services, supports local businesses, and gets Matlosana working for all.