These were the words of the DA mayoral candidate for Mangaung, Werner Pretorius, on Friday (24/7), while unveiling the party’s election pledge at The Edge in Naval Hill, Bloemfontein, ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

Pretorius outlined five key priorities the DA would focus on if elected to govern the Mangaung metro. 

These include fixing the city’s finances, ensuring reliable water and electricity supply, building a clean, safe and corruption-free city, repairing roads and potholes faster, and creating jobs and economic opportunities. He said restoring effective law enforcement is central to addressing many of the metro’s long-standing service delivery and infrastructure challenges.

DA mayoral candidate for Mangaung, Werner Pretorius, while unveiling the party's election pledge at The Edge in Naval Hill, Bloemfontein. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi 

“We will also ensure law enforcement is well equipped with necessary tools of trade and vehicles to do their work. Unfortunately, we’ve seen a lack of law and order in Mangaung. We have to restore law and order in our city. 

“We have to ensure our streets are clean and safe; we have to ensure our law enforcement is out there protecting our bulk infrastructure, our water valves, our pipelines, our transformers and our substations must be protected against criminals and against vandalism.”“Because if our bulk infrastructure is under threat, lives and livelihoods across our city are under threat.”

Pretorius said protecting critical municipal infrastructure is essential to ensuring uninterrupted delivery of basic services to residents. His remarks come as Centlec continues to battle widespread vandalism and theft targeting electricity infrastructure. The power utility has repeatedly appealed to residents to report illegal activities affecting the electricity network, while recent operations have resulted in the arrest of suspected perpetrators.

The DA’s pledge also comes against the backdrop of persistent service delivery challenges that have plagued the ANC-led Mangaung metro for several years, including unreliable water and electricity supply, deteriorating roads and ageing infrastructure.

Governance concerns have further intensified following revelations during a recent council meeting that 17 cases involving alleged unlawful, wasteful and irregular expenditure are under investigation, with the largest case involving approximately R5.4bn. Councillors also resolved to appoint an independent investigator to probe allegations against city manager Sello More.

Pretorius said the DA is committed to governing in the interests of all residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

“The DA wants to work tirelessly for the less vulnerable and weak, and those with power have to protect the weak.“

He said the party’s vision is to build a municipality that delivers reliable services, combats corruption and creates opportunities for residents while restoring public confidence in local government.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg

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