Geen geld nie? Miljoene reeds toegeken!! Nou nog R170-m, (maar voorwaardelik) / No money? Millions already allocated!! Now another R170-m, (but conditionally)

[Afr] Die adjunkminister van water en sanitasie, die DA se Sello Seitlholo, het op 2 Junie die Mafubemunisipaliteit in die Vrystaat besoek om die waterbesoedeling en gebrekkige watervoorsiening aan te spreek. Die status quo kan nie toegelaat word.

Nadat die adjunkminister die verwoestende impak van verwaarlosing en vandalisme gesien het, het hy 'n belegging van R170-miljoen in die kritieke opgraderings van waterinfrastruktuur (glo pype ook) bevestig. Hy het egter bygevoeg, dat dit nie toegeken sal word mits die regte gekwalifiseerde personeel en verantwoordbare bestuur in plek is nie. Daar moet ook ‘n sinvolle implimentasie strategie en onderhoudsplan ontwikkel wees. Hierdie projek sal glo foutiewe stelsels vervang en afvalwaterkapasiteit tot meer as 7,5-miljoen liter uitbrei.

Munisipale Wette en Administrasie 101: Terugskouend het die minister eintlik die Munisipale Bestuurder (MM) Adv. Mothusi Lepheane van Mafube Plaaslike Munisipaliteit (MPM) 'n basiese les gegee oor Administratiewe Prosesse, Regskontrakte en Behoorlike Verkrygingsprosesse. Dit blyk asof hulpbronne, selfs noodbefondsing en ander befondsing, al lankal beskikbaar was en steeds is. Selfs ‘n Hooggeregshofuitspraak van 28 April 2022 beveel het dat rioolstorting in ons waterbronne onmiddelik gestaak moet word, was geignoreer. Onkunde, laksheid en /of korrupsie het ‘n rol te speel hierin.

Skop die bal kantlyn toe: Adv. Lepheane het die vergadering meegedeel dat MPM, vir basies al sy verskillende probleme, 'n sakeplan aan DWS voorgelê het om die situasie aan te spreek. Dit is om die spreekwoordelike "bal kantlyn toe te skop!" Geen dringendendheid word bespeur nie.

Beskikbare fondse lê onbenut: Aan die ander kant het die minister onreëlmatighede uitgewys en selfs 'n uiteensetting van 'n begroting getoon waar miljoene reeds aan Mafube toegeken is. Daar is vir weinig rekenskap beskikbaar. MPM het toegang tot R58-miljoen om die waterprobleme in Frankfort en Cornelia op te los. Die projek sloer te midde van die kontrakteur se aantygings dat die ANC provinsiale bestuur aandring op ‘n R3-miljoen “donasie”.

Watertrokmafia en omkoopgeld: Intussen, floreer die "watertrok-motormafia" en word water teen hoë kostes met watertrokke aangery. Mamelo, een van die areas in Namahadi, het vir 13 jaar nie water nie. Mense moet met 20 liter kanne water vanaf die trok aandra. Dit dien as drinkwater, badwater en klerewaswater… En inwoners vertel dat hulle die trokdrywers tot R100 moet betaal vir 20 liter water! Sou dit gegronde bewerings wees, kan dit verklaar hoekom die watervoorsiening nie herstel moet word nie, want iemand gaan êrens “sakgeld” verloor.

Ons hoop vir die beste: Intussen moet nog gesien word of die stelsels herstel sal word, en of die geld op een of ander manier "beskikbaar gestel" sal word om te "help" met die betaling van salarisse of die aankoop van nog 'n paar nuwe BMW's.

Wag en sien: Lepheana en burgemeester Motsoeneng bevind hulself onder druk maar dit word betwyfel of hulle oor die vermoë beskik om die opdragte van adjunk minister Seitlolo uit te voer. Op hierdie stadium bestaan daar selfs twyfel of die twee ag geslaan het op die Hooggeregshofbevel van 25 Maart 2025.

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[Eng] The deputy minister of water and sanitation, the DA's Sello Seitlholo, visited the Mafube Municipality in the Free State on June 2 to address the water pollution and inadequate water supply. The status quo cannot be allowed.

After seeing the devastating impact of neglect and vandalism, the deputy minister

confirmed an investment of R170-million in the critical upgrades of water infrastructure (including pipes). However, he added that this will not be allocated unless the right qualified personnel and accountable management are in place. A sensible implementation strategy and maintenance plan must also be developed.

This project will apparently replace faulty systems and expand wastewater capacity to more than 7.5-million litres.

Municipal Laws and Administration 101: In retrospect, the minister actually gave the Municipal Manager (MM) Adv. Mothusi Lepheane of Mafube Local Municipality (MPM) a basic lesson on Administrative Processes, Legal Contracts and Proper Procurement Processes. It appears that resources, even emergency funding and other funding, have been available for a long time and still are. Even a Supreme Court ruling of 28 April 2022 ordering that sewage dumping into our water sources should be stopped immediately was ignored. Ignorance, laxity and/or corruption have a role to play in this.

Kicking the ball to the sidelines: Adv. Lepheane informed the meeting that MPM, for basically all its various problems, has submitted a business plan to DWS to address the situation. This is to the proverbial "kicking the ball to the sidelines!" No urgency is detected.

Available funds are lying unused: On the other hand, the minister pointed out irregularities and even showed a breakdown of a budget where millions have already been allocated to Mafube. There is little accounting available. MPM has access to R58 million to solve the water problems in Frankfort and Cornelia. The project is stalling amid the contractor's allegations that the ANC provincial executive is insisting on a R3 million “donation”.

Water truck mafia and bribes: Meanwhile, the "water truck car mafia" is flourishing and water is being brought in at high costs by water trucks. Mamelo, one of the areas in Namahadi, has been without water for 13 years. People have to carry water from the truck in 20-litre jugs. This serves as drinking water, bathing water and washing clothes… And residents say that they have to pay the truck drivers up to R100 for 20 litres of water! If these allegations are substantiated, it could explain why the water supply should not be restored, because someone is going to lose “pocket money” somewhere.

We hope for the best: In the meantime, it remains to be seen whether the systems will be restored, and whether the money will be "made available" in some way to "help" with the payment of salaries or the purchase of a few more new BMWs.

Wait and see: Lepheana and Mayor Motsoeneng find themselves under pressure but it is doubtful whether they have the ability to carry out the instructions of Deputy Minister Seitlolo. At this stage, there is even doubt whether the two heeded the Supreme Court order of 25 March 2025