The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Capricorn District Municipality is deeply alarmed by emerging evidence that the local municipalities of Lepelle Nkumpi, Blouberg and Molemole — all serviced by Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) — are on the brink of a water and sanitation infrastructure collapse.
We call on the Executive Mayor, Cllr Mamedupi Teffo, to urgently table a formal budget adjustment and a credible turnaround strategy before the CDM Council without delay.
Recent infrastructure reports reveal that the more than R24 million allocated for the operations and maintenance of critical water and sanitation infrastructure has already been exhausted within the first three months of the current financial year. During the October 2025 Infrastructure Portfolio Committee meeting, the DA raised serious concerns about this alarming situation.
In response, an additional R8 million was suddenly made available to top up the depleted maintenance budget.
While the DA acknowledges this allocation, we strongly question the process followed, and why such adjustments were made without prior Council approval. Neither the MMC for Infrastructure nor the administration could provide proper answers during the meeting.
Even more concerning is that the extra R8 million will not sustain operations beyond the Christmas period, let alone carry the district through to the end of the 2025/26 financial year in June.
On the capital expenditure side, the situation is equally dire. The Devrede Water Project stands as a clear example of failed project management. Initially scheduled for completion in December 2024 and subsequently extended to December 2025, the project remains stuck at 76% progress as of the end of October 2025 — with no chance of meeting the revised deadline.
This is another failure of an ANC-led administration unable to deliver cost-effective, timeous, and properly managed water infrastructure projects for residents. The ongoing pattern of inadequate planning, weak contract management, and the absence of consequences for non-performing contractors is directly worsening service delivery on the ground.
Residents are left to suffer while the ANC continues to mismanage basic services essential to daily life.
It is now clear that service delivery in Capricorn District will only improve at the ballot box. Our communities deserve a capable government—one that can plan responsibly, implement budgets with diligence, and deliver essential services with competence and accountability.