LICHTENBURG, NORTH WEST — The Ditsobotla Local Municipality is currently navigating severe service delivery bottlenecks that have sparked widespread frustration among residents. These ongoing civic challenges have formed the backdrop of the recent two-day voter registration weekend, highlighting a deep disconnect between the community and local leadership over basic service provision.
Across the North West Province, 1,730 voter registration stations were slated for use over the weekend. However, the civic exercise experienced logistical hiccups and a sluggish turnout. For instance, voter registration at a local Pentecostal church in Blydeville was temporarily hindered by an ongoing funeral service, restricting access for residents. Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reported that 16 stations nationwide were entirely non-operational. At alternative sites like MK Rampine Primary School, the movement of residents coming in to register remained notably slow.
Blydeville has historically been a hotspot for service delivery protests, with community members frequently taking to the streets over poor water, electricity, crime, and road infrastructure. Local councillors often bear the brunt of this anger, frequently accused by the public of not putting in enough effort to secure adequate basic services. Addressing these allegations, Ward 4 Councillor Thapelo Sehemo outlined the systemic hurdles his office faces within the Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
Councillor Sehemo noted that when he first took office, the area was plagued by a total lack of water and electricity, compounded by new housing extensions built without underground sewer or water infrastructure. He claims to have made strides in mitigating the water crisis, with supply now flowing three to four days a week following interventions by municipal leadership. Additionally, he stated that the electrical grid has stabilized, though residents still experience uneven power distribution due to circuit breaker faults while the municipality works to fully energize all homes.
Despite these reported improvements, the Ward 4 representative admitted that critical developmental projects remain stalled. He cited a lack of progress in repairing roads, unblocking the community hall, finalizing RDP (Reconstruction and Development Programme) housing, and securing bulk utility connections. According to Sehemo, the local municipality is entirely stuck due to poor facilitation with higher spheres of government. He pointed to the district level for RDP allocations, the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality for bulk connections, and the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) as the entities holding the levers of progress.
When questioned about accountability for the stalled projects, Councillor Sehemo argued that the provincial government possesses the fully funded budgets required to execute these mandates. He explained that RDP housing and road improvements—often funded through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA)—as well as bulk water connections managed by COGTA, fall outside local control.
“I get to be blamed for people who are sitting with money and a funded budget that should make sure that we live to realize and give people services,” Councillor Sehemo remarked, emphasizing that the provincial government holds the financial power to resolve these issues.
Financial mismanagement and unpaid bills further cripple the municipality, which is reportedly owed a staggering R1.4 billion. While recent national interventions revealed that councillors collectively owe the municipality R13 million in rent, Sehemo emphasized that the largest debtors are actually provincial departments, specifically Education and Public Works.
Furthermore, Blydeville’s electricity is supplied directly by the municipality rather than Eskom, yet the area lacks both water and smart electricity meters. This absence of proper smart meter auditing facilitates electricity theft and massive water revenue losses. Sehemo confirmed that applications have been submitted to the provincial and national treasury to roll out a comprehensive smart meter program to curb these losses and ensure residents pay for the services they consume.
To navigate these complex administrative and financial challenges, Councillor Sehemo relies on his academic background, which includes a higher certificate in public management and a diploma in policing, alongside his prior experience as a speaker. He maintains that leveraging these qualifications to foster transparent communication and build strong community relationships is essential for managing resident expectations while waiting for broader governmental intervention.