Technical and Infrastructure Director in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality, Nelson Mongale has linked persistent sewer blockages and infrastructure damage to intentional sabotage and foreign object dumping.
Mongale and his team have discovered rocks, tyres, sand, and bricks intentionally dumped into the main sewer pipelines and manholes, severely disrupting basic services. He linked recurring sewer blockages to deliberate acts of infrastructure sabotage by perpetrators.
While Mongale acknowledged a growing infrastructure backlog in the city, he urged residents to partner with the municipality by utilising reporting channels, and supporting infrastructure preservation efforts to resolve ongoing service delivery challenges.
“Our people should normalise reporting any individuals involved in damaging or vandalizing vital infrastructure and sewer networks. Vandalism and system misuse contribute to severe service delivery disruptions and health hazards.
“We cannot shy away from the fact that the standard municipal budget is not sufficient enough to deal with our infrastructure and sewer challenges, but we are working on alternative funding mechanisms to address the challenge,” said Mongale. The municipality has advised residents to stop disposing of rubbish, stones, rags, and other foreign objects into the sewer system. “Recent blockages across the municipality are mainly caused by materials dumped into manholes and toilets, as these materials do not decompose. They build up, obstruct the flow, and result in overflows, pipe bursts, and infrastructure damage. Residents are encouraged to cease illegal dumping into manholes and toilets,” said the municipality in a statement.
Last week, the National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) Taking Parliament to the People programme led by the NCOP Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane conducted various oversight visits in the municipality. In their statement, they have accused Mongale and MMC for Infrastructure Steferd Barrends of disappearing after the delegation decided to inspect road infrastructure sites identified by community members.
Speaking to City Report, Mongale clarified that they did not run away from parliamentary oversight, explaining instead that they were required to attend to multiple, pre-scheduled oversight commitments on the same day. In assisting the delegation to find clarity about a road rehabilitation project in Jouberton, Mongale indicated: “We only have a budget of R30 million to maintain a 2 100 km road network within the municipality.”
He indicated that while the municipality’s population and spatial growth increase demand for services, simply increasing the budget is hindered by an over R11 billion outstanding debt book and a history of passing unfunded budgets.
The municipality is owing billions of rand to both Eskom and the Midvaal Water Company. Matlosana’s outstanding bulk water bill to the utility sits at approximately R2.2 billion, which led to a major debt settlement and payment agreement signed between the parties, its bulk electricity debt has climbed past R2.3 billion, with monthly debt balances previously increasing by up to R100 million before the municipality qualified for debt relief.
The municipality has been grappling with an unfunded operating budget of R5.245 billion versus R5.241 billion in expenditure. While growth puts a strain on infrastructure, the city’s financial constraints are worsened by massive Eskom debt, high vacancy rates, and a R10.6 billion debt book.
