Frustration and anger are boiling over in parts of Welkom within the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, with residents vowing to withhold their votes in the upcoming local government elections. The community cites a complete breakdown in basic service delivery, including the absence of proper roads, running water, and sanitation, which they claim has persisted for more than twenty years.
The situation on the ground is described as dire. Residents report being forced to dig holes in their own yards to use as toilets, a practice that has become increasingly dangerous.
“The biggest thing is that we don’t have toilets. We dig holes in our yards to relieve ourselves and our yards are full. We can’t dig anymore and our children are falling in those holes,” one resident explained.
Access to clean water is another critical issue. The community lacks running water and relies on a communal tap, for which they must contribute money. “They want us to pay for water. I don’t know which water because we contribute 50 rand each to get a communal tap,” another resident said, highlighting the injustice of being asked to pay for a service the municipality fails to provide.
The poor state of the roads has compounded these challenges, creating a crisis for safety and emergency services. Roads are described as being “full of water” and deeply damaged, making them impassable. This not only isolates the community but also prevents police and ambulances from reaching those in need. Crime is reportedly rife, a situation exacerbated by a lack of street lighting.
“We need Apollo lights especially for people who go to work and come back at night… others get robbed at night while they are at work,” a community member stated.
Residents allege that their pleas for help have been consistently ignored by their elected representative. They claim that their Ward Councillor has been unresponsive and absent. “We wrote letters to him asking to have a meeting… He never responded and nothing has changed. He has never interacted with the community since he was elected,” a resident lamented.
This profound sense of neglect has led to a widespread threat of an election boycott. Residents are questioning the logic of voting for a government they feel has abandoned them. “This government of the ANC next year they are expecting these people to vote for them. But asking myself, how can these people vote for the government that is failing them currently?” one resident questioned.
The community’s demands are simple: they want to live with the basic dignity afforded to others. “We want to have water provision, roads built, toilets, and living like other people,” a resident summarized.
When given the opportunity to respond to the serious allegations, the Matjhabeng Municipality declined to comment on the matter.