The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Lephalale municipality will demand that the municipality take urgent action to ensure that the delipidated and unmaintained stormwater drainage system in Lephalale gets repaired and maintained immediately – to stop the ongoing endangerment of our community and harm to municipal infrastructure when heavy rains and flooding occur.
The DA will call on the municipality to:
- Urgently clear all blocked and overgrown stormwater drains;
- Repair damaged stormwater infrastructure and replace all broken or missing covers;
- Implement and adhere to a scheduled maintenance programme; and
- Communicate transparently with residents regarding timelines and progress.
Despite repeated complaints and the visible deterioration of stormwater infrastructure, little to no effective maintenance has been carried out for years. As a result, stormwater systems across the municipality remain structurally damaged, overgrown, and blocked, severely obstructing the natural flow of water.
Blocked stormwater drains lead directly to flooded roads and yards, damage to homes and infrastructure, and heightened safety risks for pedestrians and motorists. During rainfall, water has nowhere to go, resulting in pooling, erosion of road surfaces, and, in some cases, water entering residential properties.
Communities should not have to wait for flooding and destruction before the municipality acts. Reactive responses by the municipality is not caring governance- rather it amounts to neglect and a dereliction of basic municipal duty. Preventative maintenance is not optional – it is essential.
Stormwater infrastructure-and its proper upkeep-is a core municipal responsibility. Failure to maintain it places communities at risk and leads to avoidable and costly damage that could easily be prevented through regular maintenance.
Our community deserves responsible and caring local government that prioritises the safety, wellbeing, and interests of its people. This is what the DA stands for-and what we deliver where we govern. In the upcoming local government elections, residents will have the opportunity to vote for better, accountable, and people-centred governance.