Bushbuckridge slams illegal protests
The Bushbuckridge Local Municipality has been hit hard by service delivery protests in recent weeks. Protesters claimed this institution was failing to deliver basic services to its citizenry.
BUSHBUCKRIDGE – Responding to these recent protests, ranging from water, roads and bridge issues to accessible streets and the construction of Mapulaneng Regional Hospital, the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality’s executive mayor, Sylvia Nxumalo, said the municipality has always acknowledged water supply challenges and notoriously damaged roads, streets and bridges, and is doing its best to service local communities.
“It is public knowledge that even though the municipality has water supply challenges in some parts, it has delivered a number of completed running water projects in various communities,” said Nxumalo. “It is the municipality’s constitutional obligation to provide clean, drinkable water, sanitation, the collection of refuse and internal street grading to its communities, and it is the public’s responsibility to keep their municipal bills up to date. It should be noted that some services, including the building or construction of bridges, roads and shopping malls, are not the prerogative of the municipality.”
Recently, local residents protested against the municipality, demanding employment and business opportunities at the ongoing construction of the Mapulaneng Regional Hospital. Nxumalo said, “The municipality creates an environment conducive for business operations and job creation, and facilitates the identified and proposed roads, bridges and houses to be constructed in particular wards or villages. The municipality has seen the construction of a number of malls within Bushbuckridge and is continuing to secure investors willing to invest in business ventures that will see the unemployment rate halved.
The recent violent and illegal water supply challenges, clinics, roads and bridges protests have seen the closure of municipal and departmental offices, burning of road and traffic lights infrastructure and the torching of a municipal refuse truck. It is against this background that the municipality is urging members of the community to refrain from violent and illegal service delivery protests.
“As a result of illegal water connections on the municipal bulk line, as well as the theft of borehole engines, the municipality has experienced illegal and violent protests, and we urge members of the public to refrain from committing such illegal practices,” pleaded Nxumalo.
Water supply challenges solutions
“In response to the water supply challenges as a result of illegal water connections and theft, the municipality through its Water Authority Unit has developed water service by-laws aimed at taking those tempering with municipal water infrastructure to task. The perpetrators will be prosecuted and if found guilty will be liable for a fine or imprisonment. The municipality is also developing a water demand and conservation strategy aimed at reducing the demand of water and preventing water losses or leakages.
As part of the strategy, the municipality is also planning to install bulk measurement water meters which will serve as a measuring stick on water balance between the plant and reservoirs, and identifies the exact spot where water is lost or used at a higher rate. The municipality will continue to dispatch water tankers for water supply in the most water-distressed areas due either non-provision of bulk water supply, reticulation and theft of borehole engines,” highlighted Nxumalo.
Completed service delivery projects in the 2020/21 financial year
The municipality is pleased to announce the completion of some service delivery projects:
Water
• Inyaka/Marite Bulk Line to Cunningmore A and B, phase 2
• Provision of bulk water supply and reticulation at Tintswalo Village
• Reticulation and yard meter connection at Newington A, B and C, phase 2.
Roads
• Upgrading of internal streets at Agincourt 1B, Dwarsloop (Saselani) and Marite
• Tarring of roads via Ndonga to Tekamahala.
Service delivery projects in progress
Water
• Completion of outstanding works at Tsakani Branch (A5), phase 2
• Construction of Boelang pipeline, packaging plant and booster pump
• B22 phase 2, Agincourt and Ireagh (8,1km bulk line maintenance and connection to ML Arthurstone and Agincourt reservoirs)
• New forest and Orinocco bulk supply (B14)
• Reticulation and yard meter connection at Masoding, Paweng, Tshabeleng and Kildare A
• Construction of bulk infrastructure at Buffelshoek
• Water reticulation project at Boikhutso (Kutung A)
• Provision of bulk water supply infrastructure and reticulation at Bafaladi, Masioneng, Masoganeng, Jerusalem, Itireleng, Dikotas and New Castle
• Reticulation and yard connection at Masana, Mphenyatsatsi and Bushbuckridge, phase 2
• Provision of water reticulation at Mafihlaneng, Matikareng, New Stands, New Stands City Rovers and Dikolobeng
• Water reticulation at Orinocco A/London, phase 3
• Water reticulation at Saselani phase 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B
• Maviljan waste water treatment plant
• Mkhuhlu waste water treatment plant
• Construction of basic sanitation
• Installation of 24 new boreholes
• Refurbishment of 60 boreholes
• Refurbishment of sanitation infrastructure.
Roads
• Tarring of Cork via Kildare to Ronaldsey, phase 2B
• Upgrading of internal streets in Shatale
• Upgrading of CBD Acornhoek bypass ring road, 1B
• Upgrading of internal streets at Hluvukani (Islington), Thulamahashe (Zola) and Casteel
• Rehabilitation of donga at Mkhululine River.
Electricity
• Installation of high mast lights.
Other projects
• Construction of Thulamahashe Regional Landfill Site, Acornhoek Sports Facility, phase 2, and a workshop in Dwarsloop.
Service delivery projects yet to be implemented (2021/22 financial year)
Water
• Provision of water supply infrastructure and reticulation at Werverdiend
• Reticulation and yard meter connection at Thusanang, Phendulani, Moses, Marite crossroads, Rolle, phase 2, Mamelodi, Kgapamadi, Zola, Mabumbu, Songeni and Belfast, phase 2.
Roads
• Paving of internal streets at Agincourt (Khayalami RDP), Ronaldsey, Buyisonto, from MP Stream to Langa High School, Rooibocklaagte Cemetery access road, and Mabarhule to Somerset
• Rehabilitation of Tintswalo access road in Acornhoek
• Upgrading of internal streets at Maviljan
• Upgrading of stormwater network in Thulamahashe, phase 2
• Construction of roads in Clare, Marite, Orinocco A, from Casteel to Thembisa Primary School, phase 1, and from Casteel to Thembisa Primary School, phase 2.
Electricity
• Construction of high mast lights.
Other projects
• Construction of Thulamahashe Regional Landfill Site, phase 3
• Purchase of specialised vehicles for waste management
• Construction of Acornhoek Sports Facility.
