Deputy President David Mabuza today Friday, 21 May 2021 undertook a follow-up oversight visit to the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State Province. The Deputy President was accompanied by the Premier of the Free State, Ms Sisi Ntombela, Deputy Minister of COGTA, Mr Obed Bapela and MEC of COGTA, Mr Thembeni Nxangisa. This visit by the Deputy President was the second in a period of two months demonstrating the urgency on which service delivery matters of Maluti-a-Phofung municipality must be addressed as he committed to the National Council of Provinces and National Assembly respectively. The oversight visit was characterised in essence by the engagement with the role players across the three spheres of government and the representatives of Maluti-a-Phofung community structures.
The Deputy President noted progress registered towards resolving in particular challenges pertaining to reliable electricity supply and water provision. One of the interventions relates to a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Eskom and the Maluti-a-Phofung municipality which comprise of infrastructure refurbishment and the installation of smart electricity metering to enhance revenue collection. These interventions are premised on local beneficiation which places the SMME sector of Maluti-a-Phofung at the centre of implementation to revitalise the rural and township economy.
“We are pleased with the commitment of all parties to conclude and enter into a Service Level Agreement, which will ensure that the issue of the debt owed to Eskom by the municipality has finally come to it’s logical conclusion”, said Deputy President David Mabuza.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs committed to support the municipality in line with section 154 of the Constitution to ensure financial sustainability.
Deputy President Mabuza had engagements with local structures and was apprised of ongoing challenges with water provision in the municipality, despite the number of water infrastructure projects being implemented by the Department of Water and Sanitation. To this end, the Deputy President commited to return to Maluti-a-Phofung to specifically deal with reliable provision of water to the community.
Source: The Presidency Republic of South Africa