ZEERUST, NORTH WEST – Essential municipal services in the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality face significant disruption following the High Court Sheriff’s attachment of 13 municipal vehicles linked to an outstanding debt dispute with a security services provider.
The enforcement action, stemming from a default judgment related to a security tender, has impaired the municipality’s ability to maintain critical infrastructure. Communities across multiple villages are experiencing extended wait times for repairs to leaking drainage systems, containment of sewage overflows, and resolution of ongoing water supply interruptions.
A municipality spokesperson acknowledged the severity of the situation, calling it “an unfortunate setback” while confirming that dialogue with the service provider continues. “It is unfortunate that we see the sheriff coming to attach because we were thinking that our lawyers are busy handling this matter,” the spokesperson said.
The financial dispute centers on differing assessments of the amount owed. While the security company initially invoiced over R4 million, the municipality contests this figure. “We were disputing it. Hence the agreement that I’m having it’s indicating 2.2 [million],” the spokesperson clarified. They emphasized that the municipality is not in financial distress but awaits equitable share disbursements from national government to fulfill payment obligations.
“At the moment, we don’t have that cash to pay for the 2 million that we have agreed upon,” the spokesperson explained, noting that written commitment has been provided to settle the agreed sum during the first week of July upon receipt of allocated funds.
Community stakeholders have raised alarms about the cascading impact on service provision. A SANCO representative highlighted the breadth of affected services: “There’s a serious issue of the entire service delivery… water, sewer, roads are bad, and now the very same municipality that we are expecting to provide service delivery to our people, their assets are seized.” The representative further questioned oversight protocols, stating the current circumstances “could have been prevented.”
Political opposition voices have attributed the crisis to governance shortcomings. One opposition representative described a “serious credibility crisis” and “leadership chaos” within the municipal administration, arguing that residents disproportionately suffer the consequences. “It cannot be correct that our people continue to suffer yet a lot of money is being paid to these companies,” the representative asserted, urging stronger accountability measures for municipal managers, directors, and elected leadership.
The Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality has requested community understanding while negotiations proceed to reclaim the impounded vehicles and reinstate full service delivery operations.