This is according to the district mayor of Lejweleputswa, Sebenzile Ngangelizwe.

Ngangelizwe says the municipality understand the plight residents in that area are faced with on a daily basis. He says issues of water and infrastructure, amongst others, are being attended to by his municipality. This despite a local resident who wanted to remain anonymous, saying residents are still frustrated by the lack of water and other basic service delivery shortcomings. He says the municipality is failing the community. Ngangelizwe, however, says the residents’ concerns have been noted and are speedily being attended to, though some residents still find it difficult to pay for service.

On the other hand, Ngangelizwe says his municipality wants to use the rich history of the area as a tourist attraction in order to develop infrastructure in the area. He says due to the lack of payment for services, the municipality has not been able to pay the service provider and also failed to purify or clean the water on several occasions, and in the process this resulted in residents not being serviced with water.

OFM News previously reported that the municipality will soon be named after Madikizela-Mandela, with the hope of honouring her contribution to the struggle of residents in the municipality. On Wednesday Arts and Culture minister, Nathi Mthethwa, flanked by the mayor and other dignitaries, officially announced that R2.9 million has been set aside for the reconstruction and refurbishment of Madikizela-Mandela’s house in the Majwemasweu Location. Earlier on Wednesday morning residents braced the chilly weather and came out in their numbers, where old and young alike awaited the arrival of Mthethwa. Scores of DA supporters in party regalia were picketing outside the much-publicised house of Madikizela-Mandela before Mthethwa addressed the community.

OFM News