On Thursday, disgruntled residents from the Makeleketla township in Winburg, barricaded a part of the N1 road with burning tyres and other objects - demanding jobs from the project. Spokesperson for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Zolile Lobe, explains that this maintenance project runs across two municipalities, namely Masilonyana and Setsoto. 

Lobe says the bulk of the project occurs on the Setsoto side, resulting in many of the construction workers coming from there, to the dissatisfaction of Winburg residents who embarked on protest action this week. Frustrated motorists report protest action continued into the night, with those travelling to destinations on either side of the chaos as far as Gauteng forced to find alternative routes.

In an effort to resolve this issue, a meeting has been arranged between the Free State MECs of Cogta and Public Works and Infrastructure for next week. The MECs - Thembeni Nxangisa and Motshidisi Koloi - will further engage the two municipalities on the matter, as well as officials from the Department of Police, Roads and Transport. Winburg residents, specifically those from Makeketla, who have also complained about the lack of service delivery in the area.

Masilonyana -  a municipality in distress

Less than 80 kms away from Winburg, lies a historic town under Masilonyana that is currently facing some service delivery issues. The OFM News team has received repeated calls from an anonymous and frustrated Brandfort resident since late September 2019, regarding the latest round of water frustrations affecting the town. The late anti-apartheid struggle icon, Winnie-Madikizela Mandela was banished to the town in the late 70s by the apartheid government.

The last statement released by the municipality on the water issue, was posted on September 24 via its Facebook page informing residents of imminent water interruptions. In the statement the municipality attributes the lack of water “to a burst Bulk Raw Water Pipeline which supplies the Water Treatment Plant. No water pumping to the community is taking place as the Raw Water Storage Dam is empty. We are currently attending to the problem and water supply will be restored as soon as possible”. The municipality concludes the brief statement by apologising to residents.

OFM News