Ga-Moloi residents demand accountability over failed water projects
GA-MOLOI
Residents of Ga-Moloi Village in Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality (MLM) Ward 10, have called for a forensic audit into several water infrastructure projects in their area.
Katlego Mnisi, who represents Ward 8 community, expressed concerns over their water scarcity allegedly attributed to mismanagement of public funds and the lack of transparency in the execution of water provision projects by Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM).
The community raised concerns about incomplete projects, which includes the Water Reticulation Project which was constructed in the 2003/2004 financial year.
They are demanding accountability from SDM Executive Mayor Cllr Minah Bahula regarding the project’s fund allocation, project execution, and the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure.
“We believe that transparency and accountability are essential to ensuring that public resources are utilized effectively and that infrastructure projects benefit the intended recipients. The community deserves answers, and the law demands accountability,” Mnisi said.
He added that a borehole project was promised in 2022 following public disputes with the former Executive Mayor, but a site with excessive clay content was selected despite being geologically unsuitable.
“We want financial records review to assess funds allocated versus actual spending and an evaluation to determine whether the projects were completed as per initial plans. We demand the checking of adherence to municipal finance laws and governance standards and identification of any conflicts of interest or irregularities in contractor selection,” said Mnisi. .
He also raised specific concerns about the ongoing water supply crisis at St Rita’s Hospital in Glen Cowie.
“The hospital has relied on water trucks dispatched by the district municipality for several years, despite the existence of a pipeline infrastructure that previously supplied water directly to the facility,” informed Mnisi.
He said they have submitted their complaints to the SDM’s Office of the Executive Mayor and they have given the municipality 14 calendar days to respond to their enquires.
“Failure to do so, we will escalate the matter to the Auditor-General, the Public Protector, and relevant parliamentary oversight committees,” said Mnisi.
At the time of going to press, SDM could not respond to the publication’s enquiries.
