Service delivery in VKLM remains a vague hope to residents
“VKLM is failing to live up to its constitutionally assigned mandate and provide the most basic of services to all their residents.”
Deteriorating infrastructure and no essential services plague the Victor Khanye Local Municipality, claims DA councillor Simon Skhosana. Skosana stated the DA was petitioning the municipality to address service delivery issues.
“VKLM is failing to live up to its constitutionally assigned mandate and provide the most basic services to all their residents.”
Skosana said one such service delivery is water.
“Since 2016, the municipality’s water supply has been a source of contention because of deteriorating water infrastructure and a failure of the municipality to settle their monthly debt to Rand Water.”
Aged infrastructure includes the pipeline from Modderbee to the Eloff in Sundra. As reported in several previous editions of Streeknews, the municipality withheld access to water from some residents for months.
This crisis hit Eloff and Sundra the hardest. Streeknews previously reported on this pipeline’s frequent breaks and bursts, leaving residents without water for extended times.
“The dilapidated water infrastructure is causing unnecessary water interruptions.”
Currently, a water-shedding system is apparently in use, during which they turn the pumps on and off to ensure residents of these areas have access to water at certain times of the day or evening.
“Residents do not feel safe in their communities because of non-functional streetlights.”
Many of the streetlights in VKLM have been out of order, some for as long as five years, compromising the safety of residents. (Streeknews, March 14).
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“In addition, residents in areas like Eloff, Botleng, Sundra, Rietkol, Droogefontein and Modder East have lodged grievances with the DA over the poor condition of roads and a persistent lack of road maintenance,” Skhosana added.
“The VKLM does not properly maintain storm water drains. As a result, manholes and storm drains overflow during heavy downpours,” Skhosana also said.
“Ratepayers deserve services, not excuses. The municipality has to demonstrate the commitment and leadership required to restore confidence in delivering these critical services,” Skhosana added.
“Therefore, the DA is running a petition to ensure the VKLM deals with service delivery challenges across various communities.
“We will not tolerate incompetence; the municipality must start prioritising the delivery of services; we will continue to advocate for excellent government practices that will benefit Victor Khanye residents,” Skhosana concluded.
