EMPUMELELWENI – Executive Mayor Cllr Lesetja Dikgale delivered his final State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) at Khulisile Palace on Friday, 28 August, declaring Thembisile Hani stronger and ready for investment after five years of the sixth administration.
Addressing the council, Dikgale said the address was an opportunity to account to residents for the mandate they had entrusted to the administration five years ago.
On water and sanitation, Dikgale announced that three new 18,000-litre municipal water trucks would arrive in September, increasing the fleet from six to nine.
“Thembisile Hani does not subscribe to, nor will it tolerate, the vandalism of water infrastructure for the benefit of water tankering,” said Dikgale.
He reported that access to waterborne sanitation had increased from 8% to 28%. The KwaMhlanga Sewer Oxidation Ponds have been refurbished, while the Larry Mamabolo Wastewater Treatment Works in Tweefontein K is being upgraded from 1.5 to 3 megalitres per day, with completion expected in November.
Hotnot Masemula, leader of the AIPO opposition party, welcomed the plans but said water remained the municipality’s biggest challenge.
“The main challenge facing our municipality is water. If they can fix that challenge, our issues would be solved,” said Masemula.
On roads and infrastructure, Dikgale said more than 50 kilometres of roads had been regravelled, 15,000 square metres of potholes had been patched and 40 kilometres of stormwater channels had been built.
He described the R3.7 billion upgrade of Moloto Road (R573) as a catalytic project.
TS Galaxy FC chairman Tim Sukazi welcomed the municipality’s infrastructure progress and said the team’s use of Solomon Mahlangu Stadium had contributed to economic activity in the municipality.
“That brings economic development and economic stability in our municipality,” said Sukazi.
On electricity, Dikgale said 97% of households now had access to electricity. He said delayed high-mast lights in Wards 2, 13, 15, 29, 30 and 32 would be switched on by 30 October in partnership with Eskom.
On investment, Dikgale cited the Khazamula Sasol fuel station, launched on 26 June, and the R323 million Spring Life Private Hospital as examples of investor confidence in the municipality.
Local entrepreneur Lebo Lebugang Mashego, founder of Eggsellent by Lebo, credited the municipality with helping her access funding from the NYDA, NEF and the agriculture sector.
She said her egg-producing farm had created 60 jobs, including 20 permanent positions.
“That is the way of dealing with unemployment. It is painful to know that this is their last term. We just hope that they can come back,” said Mashego.
Dikgale concluded: “These achievements did not happen by chance, but are a product of careful planning and a community that never lost faith.”
