SDM Executive Mayor delivers State of the District Address
Ga-Masemola
The Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune District Municipality, Cllr Minah Bahula, has tabled her State of District Address (SODA) at Ga-Masemola Stadium outside Jane Furse on Tuesday 9 July.
Delivering the SODA, Bahula stated that the address takes place a few weeks after the historical general elections that led to the Government of National Unity (GNU) culminated after none of the political parties got the outright majority to rule the country.
She said they feel honored in Sekhukhune district to be given four cabinet appointments with Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Dr Joe Phaahla appointed in the Department of Health respectively as the Minister and the Deputy Minister, Dr Dickson Masemola as the Deputy Minister of COGTA, and Mr. Stan Mathabatha as the Deputy Minister of Land reform.
Bahula furthered noted the progress made in the appointment of senior managers to fill long overdue vacant positions within the institution. She highlighted that SDM has fulfilled a commitment to appoint Mr. Meshack Kgwale as Municipal Manager, Ms. Khomotso Robinson as Director of Community Services.
“We have no reason to be complacent in taking strategic decisions and providing sound, efficient, effective, transparent and accountable administration,” she said.
The executive mayor shared on how the district municipality contributes in fighting unemployment through skills development programs established with various recognized higher learning institutions in the country.
The programs include the International Support Programme that will benefit 10 unemployed youth in the district, 10 SMMEs and 10 officials of the district municipality.
She also highlighted that the newly launched skills development centre at Aquaville outside Groblersdal has received a major boost from the Department of Higher Education and Training and is set to empower the people of Sekhukhune with requisite skills to fight the triple challenges of unemployment, inequality, and poverty through education.
Bahula outlined that the district municipality will work on the encroachment of residential sites into the heritage site and enhance a conducive environment for promotion of tourism to boost local tourism economy.
Responding to drinkable water challenges faced by majority of residents in the district, Bahula said the municipality is making strides towards providing potable water to residents.
“The municipality is currently providing full water services in the main towns of Burgersfort, Marble Hall, Groblersdal, Steelpoort and Ohrigstad. The most villages in the vast rural areas are being provided with ground water as alternative sources and water tankers where necessary,” she said.
Bahula indicated that the municipality is currently dealing with all identified problems in the schemes which are mainly capacity related such as the Groblersdal to Luckau Bulk Water Pipeline which is currently being upgraded including the capacity of the water treatment plant.
“Moutse West and East Bulk Water Supply Scheme was delayed by the continuous legal disputes regarding the professional fees between the municipality and the Consulting Engineers. The dispute has since been amicably resolved and the Department of Water Services will continue with the construction project,” informed Bahula.
She said the Lebalelo Bulk Water Supply Scheme, which depends on Mooihoek Water Treatment Works is planned to be upgraded from 12 mega litres to 24 mega litres per day.
The executive mayor hinted that the Flag Boshielo Bulk Water Supply Scheme is currently being upgraded from 8 to 16 mega litres per day.
“The Nebo Plateau Bulk Water Supply Scheme, Malekana to Jane Furse Bulk Water Supply is currently under commissioning to perform conditional assessment for the pipelines that were constructed in 2011,” she said.
Bahula said the district municipality has resorted to the drilling of boreholes as a mid-term solution and the provision of water through water tinkering system as a short-term solution.
“The municipality has recently drilled and equipped 44 boreholes for the whole Sekhukhune District. The executive mayor made a bold commitment to change the water shortage dynamics of the district on the 17th November 2024. The office initiated four engagements sessions with the office of the Minister of the Department of Water services to find a lasting water solution in the district,” she said.
