Lentswe, Klerksdorp - Matlosana Mayor Fikile Mahlophe promised business owners in Uraniaville a turnaround in service delivery. With the MMC for Infrastructure at his side on Friday September 12 he said Operation Tlhasela will resolve their fears and he scheduled a follow-up meeting for September 26 to review the progress made in the industrial area. Last week, the DA voiced their concern on what they call the “continued collapse of services in Uraniaville and Klerkindustria’’. DA Federal Leader John Steenhuisen visited Uraniaville to witness the neglect, where at that stage Uraniaville has had no water for more than a week.
According to Cllr Johannes le Grange the DA then facilitated a meeting with the Mayor, only to be shown the door last week Friday, because “the DA would politicise the issue’’.
“This is nothing more than an attempt to silence accountability and exclude the very councillors who have consistently fought for service delivery in ward 19,’’ he said.
Le Grange identified ward 19 as the single largest revenue contributor in the City of Matlosana. According to the municipality’s own figures, Ward 19 contributes over 30% of the city’s total revenue, in some months generating more than R55 million.
“Yet residents and businesses in Uraniaville face constant water interruptions and poor pressure; ongoing sewer leaks; and dangerously neglected roads and potholes that cripple local trade.’’
In the meeting with the Mayor, Barry Smith from Bates Mining Specialists in Uraniaville, spoke up saying businesses are making a significant investment to create a positive legacy for future generations yet they get no services in return.
Mayor Mahlophe with representatives from relevant departments committed to addressing issues or road, water and sewerage in a two week timeframe.
Despite Le Grange being shut out of the meeting he said: ”We will continue to stand with the people of Uraniaville and Klerkindustria to ensure that the 30%+ revenue paid by Ward 19 is finally matched with the basic services this community deserves.”
