The lingering issues of service delivery took centre stage again in the Free State during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Eagle Christian Church in Bloemfontein, where he led the Easter program.

Residents of Grasslands 3 in Mangaung metro held a peaceful protest with placards displaying their frustrations, in the hopes that their grievances will be heard and addressed. Among the crowd of protesters stood Khathaza'manyeamadoda Makandela (41), a resident of Ward 17, who told OFM News that the essential services in the area have been neglected for more than 15 years. Makandela expressed the collective sentiment of his fellow residents, emphasising their dire need for access to basic necessities such as water and proper sanitation. He explained that they lack reliable water supply and proper sanitation, citing that they still use pit toilets.

“We’ve been living in that area for 15 years without water, without toilets. We’ve spoken to all the councillors but nothing has come right. Instead, we receive letters from the municipalities that we owe water payments, we owe services payments,” Makandela said. He continued:” I went personally to tell them that we don’t have water and services and the man helping me agreed. But the Department of Human Settlement indicted that everything was paid for and that the place is developed, but it’s not. The is no sewage system, there are no toilets, there is no water. Yesterday we even went to a council meeting and were told the councillor will put in 300 toilets. We told the councillor we don’t want 300 toilets because we are more than 3 000, people.”

Ward 17 resident of Mangaung plead for help as they demonstrated their frustration holding placards outside Eagle christian church in Bloemfonteing ahead of Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa's visit, photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

The National Council of Provinces chairperson, Itumeleng Ntsube, had previously stressed that the bucket system remains a major concern in Mangaung and Masilonyana municipality, saying that the issue of pit latrines should have been dealt with a long time ago.

In his 2023/24 budget speech, water and sanitation minister, Senzo Mchunu, announced plans to eradicate the bucket system in the Free State and North West.

OFM News