AfriForum demands urgent action regarding the state of decay in Potchefstroom
In a formal letter to the JB Marks Local Municipality, AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch is demanding a remediation plan – complete with clear deadlines – to address the ongoing deterioration of municipal services, infrastructure, and public safety in the city. The civil rights organisation requires the Municipality to submit this plan, along with details regarding the responsible officials and departments, as well as the budget and resources available for the initiative, by 1 September.
This demand follows persistent and escalating service delivery issues in the city. Issues requiring urgent attention, according to AfriForum, include sewage spills and pollution of the Mooi River; frequent power outages; potholes and a deteriorating road network; faulty traffic and street lights; faded road markings; and the poor maintenance of public spaces.
Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Mooi River, notes that the discharge of untreated sewage into the Mooi River – specifically at the Botha Street pump station – and sewage overflows from municipal manholes on or near private properties are of particular concern, posing serious health and environmental risks to residents. AfriForum demands an immediate halt to this pollution and the implementation of necessary rehabilitation and remediation measures.
According to AfriForum, the increasing frequency and duration of power outages also require urgent investigation. Among other things, the organisation wants to know what preventive maintenance is being performed on the electricity network and whether municipal technicians have sufficient vehicles, equipment, spare parts, and other resources to carry out repairs efficiently.
The condition of Potchefstroom’s roads and traffic infrastructure is equally concerning, and AfriForum is now demanding clarity regarding the operational status of the Municipality’s asphalt plant, the volume of asphalt produced, and the number of potholes repaired.
Furthermore, the organisation demands that the Municipality urgently address faulty streetlights and traffic lights, poor or missing road markings, overgrown public spaces, fire hazards, and the general cleanliness of the municipal area. These issues not only affect the city’s appearance but also pose direct risks to road users and pedestrians, as well as to the safety of residential and business areas.
According to Pretorius, Potchefstroom residents pay for municipal services and are therefore entitled to a safe environment and properly maintained infrastructure. “These problems can no longer be viewed in isolation. When sewage ends up in the river and on residents’ properties, power outages increase, roads crumble, and streetlights and traffic lights fail to work, it points to a much larger problem regarding municipal management and maintenance.”
Douglas Bourn, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch, believes the community is fed up with empty promises. “A mere acknowledgment of receipt or vague promises that the problems will be addressed are no longer sufficient. We want to see concrete answers, accountability, deadlines, and visible action. If the Municipality does not respond meaningfully, AfriForum will escalate the relevant issues to the appropriate authorities and regulatory bodies where necessary, and consider further legal action,” he warns.
Get involved today
Get involved with AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch and neighbourhood watch today and help keep your environment clean and safe. Contact Douglas Bourn (083 232 1020) for a quote to make use of the Potchefstroom neighbourhood team’s various services, and Cornelia Blignaut (073 390 4133) to join the neighbourhood watch.
