The sudden cleaning and patching of potholes in the Welkom-based Matjhabeng Municipality ahead of the presidential imbizo has raised eyebrows.

Service delivery issues will once more take centre stage when President Cyril Ramaphosa visits the Free State again to hold another presidential imbizo in Welkom on Thursday (7/11). The municipality has recently been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, with opposition parties criticising ANC Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha.

Yesterday, Community Safety, Roads and Transport MEC Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae visited the province’s second city and engaged with the team deployed to patch potholes. They must fix potholes identified by the municipality and also remove waste from illegal dumping sites.

However, the DA in Matjhabeng described this move as undermining, especially to residents. “Mayor Khalipha continues to use his office as a political grandstand,” said DA Caucus Leader Igor Scheurkogel. “All of a sudden Welkom (sidewalks) and potholes are being cleaned because the president is going to have a presidential imizo, which is only going to be using state money to be campaigning for the 2024 election.

Free State MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Maqueen Lotsoha Mathae, engaged with the pothole patching team, Photo: Facebook

“I find it insulting that councilors day in and day out report on potholes to be filled, street lights to be fixed and they now want to do this only when the president comes,”

Meanwhile, during a recent media briefing, Khalipa told journalists the municipality was upbeat about repaying huge debts to Eskom and Vaal Central Water Board. Matjhabeng owes Eskom R5 billion and Vaal Central Water Board even more.

The municipality is also among those in the Free State that owe third-party contributions. The SAMWU regional deputy secretary  Dan Mana told OFM News that the municipality owes millions of rands to third-party contributions.

Numerous activities have taken place in Welkom as part of preparations for the upcoming presidential imbizo, with the recent Safer Festive Season launch at the Bronville Stadium led by Letsoha-Mathae alongside Khalipha and Provincial Police Commissioner Baile Motswenyane. Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana on Friday (1/12) led the provincial commemoration of World Aids Day in Welkom’s Thabong Multipurpose Centre.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi    Daphné