The ailing town of Welkom in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State is set to undergo a rebuilding phase.

Ramaphosa said this while answering questions in Parliament this week. The DA Leader John Steenhuisen raised concerns about the leading government’s cadre deployment system which has resulted in deterioration of services in municipalities. He said the district development model will not improve service delivery.

The DA Leader John Steenhuisen. Picture screenshot

“Mr President, I have been on the road in the Free State and Northern Cape to see for myself some of the service failures. The town of Welkom has sewage running through it. Schools, businesses, and churches in many of the towns go without water for weeks.” 

In his response, Ramaphosa said Welkom is a town which is under transformation after being captured.

“Welkom is a typical example where things are happening and things are being changed. Welkom in a way had been captured, and captured by certain entities – six, I may say – that had various processes of local government outsourced to them, including water treatment, as you now say the sewage water is running down the street.”

Ramaphosa said Welkom is being transformed after the deployment of Matjhabeng Mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha.

“Deployed there is Mayor Khalipa, who is cleaning up, who is making sure that Welkom is repositioned, and who is involved in the process of bringing back municipal services that had been outsourced unnecessarily. He is making sure, as they reposition the town’s council, that they can render effective services to our people.” 

Ramaphosa said the government is seeking to deploy people in the correct positions to be able to execute work.

OFM News