Standerton without a doubt reflects the nationwide tendency of service delivery grinding to a halt in small towns.
The Standerton Advertiser sent a WhatsApp-message to the communications manager of the Lekwa Municipality, Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, on Friday, 6 March, enquiring whether the following allegations from a source are true:
That municipal workers are not paid overtime, that workers are on a go-slow and that employees’ salaries were not fully paid on payday.
The newspaper also asked when a special council meeting will take place.
To be concise, the four main issues are sewage, water, electricity and refuse removal.
Mr Rosier de Ville, caucus leader of the DA, said he reported between eight to 10 complaints daily and water-related complaints are addressed, but not sewage problems.
Residents in Bergenheim-flats in Berg Street had to scramble last week to get electricity supply reconnected after the municipality cut the power due to an outstanding account.
The flats are the home of two people who rely on oxygen and it was eventually established that the person whose account was in question, had passed away in 2016 and stayed in the Gardens Flats.
Ms Angel Khanyile, DA member of parliament, recently delivered a speech in the National Assembly, saying Lekwa is putting the lives of residents in danger.
According to Ms Khanyile, a pharmacist in town indicated that he treats 20 children daily for rash and diarrhea which are caused by dirty water.
She also referred to inconsistent electricity supply in rural areas and the effect on the farming community.
According to her, the community goes without water at least two days a week.
The newspaper also contacted Ms Wilma Venter last week for her take on service delivery issues, as well as statistics on the number of complaints received on two WhatsApp-groups.
Ms Venter said water and sewage problems have increased since December.
Mr Pheello Mlotshwa from Sakhile who also manages a group, said he gets no less than four water-related complaints daily with the most affected areas being Ext 7, Ext 2, Phalama Section and Rooikoppen.
He added that the water trucks do not supply water regularly after taps have run completely dry.
Complaints about electricity supply range between one to two daily, but the municipality quickly restores power and according to him, refuse removal seems to be not such a big problem in Sakhile.
The Standerton Advertiser published five municipal notices on our website in the past fortnight.
• Vandalised valves were replaced at the Square Reservoir on Friday, 6 March and the communications department said they are faced with the challenge of supplying water to Ext 2, 6, 7 and 8.
• Inspection and replacement of faulty electricity meters began on 27 February.
• Waste collection services were behind schedule and the backlog was attributed to logistical problems.
• Water supply to Wards 3, 5, 7, 8 and 15 was interrupted from 22 February to 24 February.
• Eskom planned to interrupt electricity supply to execute maintenance on 11 March from 8.50m to 4pm. Power supply to town, Kosmospark, Florapark,. Ext 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, Sakhile, Stanwest, Meyerville and Factory side would have been affected.
Lekwa Clean Up Crew (LCUC) was busy the whole of last week, collecting refuse.
