Petition highlights Phalaborwa infrastructure failures
Disgruntled Phalaborwa residents describe their town as a ‘ghost town’ and call for action on water, electricity, and roads.
PHALABORWA – Disgruntled resident Marie Malan has described Phalaborwa as “becoming a ghost town” amid ongoing service delivery challenges.
In response, Malan has launched a petition calling on residents to voice their dissatisfaction with the state of infrastructure and basic services in the area.
Residents launch petition over failing services
The petition invites residents to sign if they are unhappy with water, electricity, and road conditions.
Malan aims to collect at least 1000 signatures, which she hopes will compel the mayor of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality to acknowledge what residents describe as a failure in service delivery.
“We used to be a tourist town, situated next to the world-renowned Kruger National Park, but now it is a different story,” the petition reads.
“We are facing an absolute crisis in basic service delivery: no water, no electricity, and crumbling roads. To make matters worse, a flood swept through our town weeks ago, leaving a trail of destruction and compounding our already dire situation.
“Despite numerous pleas to our local municipality, they remain unresponsive and indifferent to our suffering.”
Malan said the challenges extend beyond Phalaborwa and affect the wider Ba-Phalaborwa region, including Boelang, Lulekani, and Mashishimale, among other areas.
She added that she was assisted by Rudi Koekemoer, a resident, in establishing the petition and that it has the backing of several local community leaders.
Community calls for accountability and repairs
The petition calls on the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality to prioritise the repair of essential services, beginning with the restoration of reliable water and electricity, the repair of flood-damaged roads, and a comprehensive cleanup of streets.
It also demands transparency and accountability from municipal officials, as well as meaningful engagement with the community to find sustainable solutions.
Petition gains momentum amid growing community concern
As of Monday, March 23, the petition had garnered more than 600 signatures and had been shared over 600 times.
The Herald contacted municipal spokesperson Jonas Mahesu for comment, but no response had been received at the time of going to print.
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