In a statement issued by Freddy Sonakile MPL – DA North West Spokesperson on Cooperative Governance, the DA noted the general collapse in basic service delivery in Ventersdorp since the JB Marks merger.
Despite opposition from residents and a cautionary warning from the DA, in 2016, the ANC, through its then Minister of COGTA, Pravin Gordhan, took a decision to merge the Ventersdorp and Tlokwe Local Municipalities into the single JB Marks Local Municipality.
Prior to the merger, the DA warned that there will be deterioration of service delivery and governance. “The DA in North West is appalled by the extent of neglect and decay of Ventersdorp in the JB Marks Local Municipality following the ANC’s gerrymandering of the municipal boundaries in order to secure an ANC majority in Potchefstroom before the 2016 local government elections,” the statement read.
During an oversight inspection on Friday, 10 February, the DA found a town severely neglected and in an advanced state of general decay. “There is a general collapse of basic infrastructure, from poor roads due to a lack of maintenance, dilapidated municipal offices and recreational facilities, incomplete RDP houses, water and sanitation issues, lack of refuse removal, as well as regular electricity supply interruptions.” the statement added.
According to Freddy Sonakile, the Toevlug community is home to incomplete RDP houses that clearly do not meet the technical and general guidelines of the national housing code. The foundations of these houses are also out of alignment with their external walls, posing a safety risk to beneficiaries. The sports grounds located on Koekemoer Street and Tshing township have both been abandoned and the structures that remain are near collapse. “
The DA also paid a visit to the JB Marks municipal ‘satellite offices’ located at the old Ventersdorp municipal offices to conduct an oversight inspection, but we were met by security personnel from White Leopard Security and Tshedza Protective Services who tried, unsuccessfully, to intimidate and prevent us from conducting the inspection,” Sonakile said.
The general collapse in basic service delivery, specifically the provision of water, electricity and sanitation services has seen some government facilities such as the newly built Tshing Community Library and the public pool shut down.
The lack of water and electricity supply is making it near impossible for local businesses and the Agri sector to operate. The erratic supply of water and extended electricity blackouts in addition to loadshedding forces additional and avoidable financial costs on business owners and farmers, threatening jobs and food security. Although basic service delivery has steadily collapsed throughout the JB Marks Local Municipality, Ventersdorp has been in an advanced state of collapse due to the ANC government’s neglect of the town since 2016.
“This was bound to happen due to the geographical distance between Ventersdorp and the seat of JB Marks in Potchefstroom,” Sonakile noted.
Sonakile further added that In support of the call for Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom to be reversed, the DA will ask Premier Bushy Maape during his state of the province address to urge the North West Provincial Government to support the DA’s position to divide the two municipalities with the Municipal Demarcation Board as the DA considers realigning municipal boundaries ahead of the local elections in 2026. The Herald asked the municipality for comment but none for is thcoming.
