Orapelo Mongale in Galeshewe tells OFM News that residents need to start showing leadership and desist from the mentality of always waiting and depending on the government to provide leadership.

Residents of Galeshewe have recently raised concerns with various issues, including the lack of better and quality service delivery, fraud, and corruption in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality. Mongale says residents must start to attend community meetings and form structures within the areas in which they reside to follow up on issues that troubles them.

"Our problem is that we are ignorant when it comes to community meetings. There is a community structure that meets from time to time as Galeshwe Community Forum and they usually call meetings but we don't attend and I am one of those people. I'm always depending on others to fight for and defend me," Mongale adds.

He also lamented the lack of leadership from government. He says people in power only look after the ones close to them and continues to perpetuate a culture of favours.

"There are those who are eloquent and well-spoken and with their ability to speak, one ends up deciding to give them a chance in government but once in power and positions, they now forget those who put them in power and focus on friends and those close to them.

And this usually comes back to affect us as residents. We know that money to fix potholes around the township has been released but in our area called Rramora it's been three months with no activity," Mongale adds.

The municipality's spokesperson, Sello Mattie, has confirmed that the municipality is currently attending to issues of water and sanitation infrastructure, amongst others.

OFM News