Mpho Dube

The governing party finds itself in hot water with the opposition for dismally failing to provide the public with basic needs such as water, sanitation and electricity.  The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the provincial government to urgently intervene to ensure that the people are not denied their constitutionally enshrined rights to water, sanitation and electricity because of poorly managed municipalities.

Mr Jacques Smalle, Caucus leader of the DA in the Provincial Legislature said a report entitled "State of Municipalities Service Delivery" tabled last week by the Department of Local Government and Housing before the Portfolio Committee on Local Government and Housing revealed a poor service delivery track record by municipalities in Limpopo.

Smalle said over 25 municipalities, including Polokwane Municipality, were evaluated on their achieved delivery outcomes on the provision of water, sanitation, and electricity.  The assessment was conducted between August 2009 and November 2009. It investigated the number of households that had to be serviced, how many were actually serviced and what the backlog in each of these service delivery outcomes were.

Mr Mogale Nchabeleng, Spokesperson for the Provincial Government said: "As the Provincial Government we are doing well in carrying out our Constitutional mandate. More than 72% of our people are receiving water and we have connected no less than 81% of electricity in various households. Our infrastructure has improved in line with the 2010 preparations and more than 80% of the people have endorsed this government to continue its mandate of service delivery and improve their living conditions."  Nchabeleng further said all 30 municipalities in Limpopo have completed their turnaround strategy by the end of May this year to deal with the challenges and to accelerate the pace of service delivery.

In the light of the matter Polokwane Observer alarmed the Premier Cassel Mathale’s administration after revealing the worsening life condition of the community of Vingerkraal in Bela-Bela during its investigation.

The investigation revealed that after 16 years of democracy the community of Vingerkraal still lacks clinics, electricity, water supply and sanitation. To add to the gloomy picture Vingerkraal High School boast many broken windows and doors while some students study in a shack with broken windows despite the cold weather. DA Provincial Leader, Ms Desiree Van der Walt said: "The school is in a terrible condition. The people have no clinics, electricity, water supply and sanitation. The situation is highly unacceptable and must be overturned. The DA is going to engage the Provincial Government about the matter."

In reaction, Nchabeleng said: "There is a service delivery backlog as a result of the past systems of separate development. However the areas that are not developed will definitely be developed."

The following table shows the worst performing municipalities in the provision of water, sanitation and electricity: