The DA administration in Thabazimbi inherited a bankrupt municipality with hundreds of millions of Rands of debt that was riddled with fraud corruption and poor management from the ANC government when we came into office after the 2016 Local Government Election.
The municipality was in such a dire financial state that when the unity government took over they only inherited a building as all movable assets were attached due to the failing ANC’s poor handling of finances. See photos here and here.
All furniture in the Municipality was attached a day after the Council was sworn in. The sheriff also attached a Mercedes Benz ML, which was the official vehicle of the former ANC Mayor and a car from the corporate affairs office as well as two traffic patrol and road maintenance vehicles.
The Municipality had to rely on one computer which was shared by various departments for more than two weeks and workers who reported for duty sat under trees outside the building.
There were no working systems in place, nor was there any supply chain management or oversight over projects.
We also had to deal with massive Eskom and Magalies Water Board debt, aged infrastructure and municipal officials who were unwilling to work or assist. We’ve also had to manage a very difficult political landscape the Unity Government which includes the DA, EFF, TRA and FF+.
Despite all these challenges we were able to work hard to improve systems and structures in the Municipality. We have also tried our utmost best to provide better service to the people of Thabazimbi.
Some of the DA’s noteworthy achievements include the following:
- We finalized the installation of over 3000 prepaid electricity meters and we are also installing water meters for people who have never paid before;
- In April 2019 we refurbished all mini sub-stations in collaboration with PPC to the value or R5 million;
- We procured 1000 bags of cold asphalt to fix potholes in Thabazimbi and Northam and we are trying our best to ensure that Municipal roads are fixed;
- We ensured that the Parks Department received the necessary tools of trade to enable them to maintain parks, sport facilities and cemeteries;
- We’ve installed functional sewage pumps in Extension 37;
- We have procured a new traffic vehicle and two bakkies for the Water and Sanitation Department; See pboto here.
- We upgraded our electrical substation to the value of R10 million;
- We have also worked with the private sector, including local mines to improve the lives of our residents; and
- The pump station is in the process of being upgraded.
To add to this, the DA led administration in Thabazimbi has also allocated R70.5 million to Capital Projects in the current financial year.
This money will be used to better the Municipality in order to attract more investors in an attempt to create more employment for the unemployed residents of Thabazimbi.
The targeted roads includes the Medivet road, the road to Heuwelkruin and R33 million will be used to upgrade internal streets, upgrade sport facilities and paving of the streets in Raphuti.
Furthermore, toilets will be installed at the Dwaalboom settlement and Lapa and the satellite office at Northam will also be upgraded in the near future.
DA Provincial Leader, Jacques Smalle assisted to procure heavy service equipment in the Municipality including a grader, bulldozers and TLBs in order to address various challenges in the community. Gravel roads will now be able to be graded for the first time in many years and we are finally in the position to compact landfill sites.
The DA was also actively involved in arranging that the Magalies Water Board distribute directly to the properties in Koedoesdoorns. We also managed to secure an extra 2ML water per day for parts of Northam that were without water for extended periods of time.
The Democratic Alliance continuously does its utmost best, in very difficult circumstances, to deliver services to the residents in Thabazimbi.
We are in a constant effort to stabilise the municipal finances and we have made inroads into paying the outstanding debts that we inherited from the previous administration.
We are on the right path to save the municipality from decades of poor fiscal management by the ANC and we are providing services to the communities of Thabazimbi.
We realise that many challenges still exist but we will work day and night to make sure that we improve the lives of residents.
DA is committed to address and accelerate service delivery to the people of Thabazimbi and therefore urges all the residents to stand together and vote DA on the 27 November in Ward 2 to help us retain this ward and continue to serve them.