Local communities complain of FTLM’s dysfunctional apollo lights
BURGERSFORT
In his 2025 State of the Local Municipality Address Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality’s mayor Eddie Maila said the City Development Strategy (Vision 2043) is on track.
During the August 7 event, Maila outlined bold plans to transform Fetakgomo Tubatse into a city.
In recent weeks, residents have questioned whether this vision is achievable with the FTLM struggling in accelerating services within its municipal boundaries.
To make matters even worse, the National Treasury has temporarily withheld the July 2026 equitable share funding for the FTLM, this is due to severe financial mismanagement and non-compliance with municipal laws.
Traffic lights and street lights are faulty in the Burgersfort CBD, Praktiseer and surrounding areas.The apollo lights installed in villages around Burgersfort, since 2015 and some in 2023 remain none functioning.
In July 2025, residents in Ward 16 of the FTLM wrote a formal complaint regarding the non-functional apollo lights, the letter was directed to the Limpopo premier (Phophi Ramathuba), urging her to intervene and to ensure the lights are energized.
“We, the residents of Ward 16, Penge Ga-Mokgotho Community, Sekhukhune District, Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality, lodge this formal complaint regarding two Apollo Lights that were installed back in 2015, but have remained dysfunctional ever since the installations. The lights are located at: Maretlwaneng Village, near Ga-Mokgotho Bridge and Ga-Mokgotho Village, near Makhwese Secondary School and Junior Sports Field,” the letter stated.
According to local residents, despite repeated complaints to the municipality during IDP meetings, no action has been taken to energize the lights. Transformers were allegedly installed but not connected to the Apollo Lights, leaving them susceptible to theft and vandalism.
The faulty apollo lights are not only in Ward 16, several communities such as Praktiseer, Mabocha, Riba Cross, Bothashoek Ga Selala and other villages have these ‘decorative’ malfunctioning lights.
A fortnight ago, Sekhukhune Times forwarded queries to the communications team at the FTLM municipality, asking for clarity on the apollo lights, and the reasons they are not energised. The municipality was yet to respond at the time of going to print.
