The JB Marks Municipality wants to use its Thuntsha Lerole Programme to fast-track service delivery.

North West has often come under criticism for poor service delivery. The DA and EFF leaders in the Provincial Legislature have condemned the Thuntsha Lerole Programme as being nothing more than a money-making scheme for those with proximity to the ANC-led government.

On Friday (24/11), Mayor Gaba Thithiba Ka Qhele led the campaign of patching potholes in various parts of the city. He said the municipality entered the second phase of Thuntsha Lerole after the first phase led by the provincial government.

The second phase of the Acceleration Service Delivery Programme lasts from 20 November to 14 December. It includes unblocking sewerage lines, cleaning illegal dumping sites, debushing, pothole patching, fixing of faulty keypads and communication wires.

 JB Marks municipality attending to illegal dumping issues. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

The municipality has attended to issues of illegal dumping at, among other hotspots, the Steve Tshwete Clinic, Tupane Primary School, Keotshepile Primary School, Mogolodi Street, the sports grounds next to Mosaic and Dan Tloome Primary School. Other spots include the Extension 6 Sports Grounds, Snake Park, an illegal dumping site on Tontobane Street, and Ext 6 Areaganeng Street.

“We are installing 31 water meters where there was a shortage of water supply in Ward 1. We are also attending to issues of wrongful billing. Our finance department is on the ground listening to people because of other challenges … in some of the quarters the water supply is inconsistent.”

He said Ward 18 has been affected by flooding, and they took a decision to relocate some people to open spaces the municipality has cleaned.

 JB Marks municipal workers patching potholes as part of Operation Thuntsha. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi 

The programme has also created much-needed employment for the people of JB Marks, he said.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi Corné