Sakhile-township has more than its fair share of challenges as became evident on a conducted tour. Mr Pheello Mlotshwa navigated the Standerton Advertiser on Thursday, 13 August on the Santa-road, past Shukuma Primary School all the way to Rooikoppen and Leseli Primary School, with a dumping site next to a pre-school. It became abundantly clear that most service delivery issues are present, resonating with what a visitor to Sakhile, Mr Richman Shazi, said. “Sakhile is a time bomb, waiting to explode,” his letter read. As far as roads are concerned, the route coming in past the Santa Hospital is fairly good, but other roads leave much to be desired with potholes, sewage and water spills that have to be manoeuvred. Hats off however, to Sakhile drivers who cautiously drive over the speed humps. Cattle, horses, goats, sheep, chickens and pigs that did not go flying, but foraged in a dumping site were seen.
The newspaper located the origin of flowing sewage, the manhole located just outside a school and Rooikoppen Taxi Rank had its waiting taxis, with the obligatory water flowing. Volunteers of the Lekwa Ratepayers Association were busy with necessary repairs at the side of one road and in more affluent areas, a semblance of order was restored. Moroka was where the house of a pensioner, Mr Sabelo Radebe, was recently flooded with sewage. A walk into the bedroom testified to a hole in the wall, specifically dug there, to allow for sewage to get out. According to information, his request for a RDP-house has not been approved.
Mr Shazi also touched on the health aspect, mentioning the impact on health facilities that have to cope with Covid-19. Water supply are interrupted in certain areas and electricity supply goes hand in hand with Lekwa shedding and Eskom shedding. He suggested that the IFP conducts a visit to the area and demanded answers from the Lekwa Municipality. A WhatsApp-message was sent to the communications manager of the municipality, Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, on Friday, 14 August about the comments of Mr Shazi. No reply was received at the time of going to press.
