AfriForum neighbourhood watch team tackles deteriorating infrastructure around Maluti Hooglandskool

AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch team in Bethlehem began a project on 3 June to repair potholes, erect stop signs and repaint pedestrian crossings around Maluti Hooglandskool in the town. Two stop signs were erected in front of the school gate in Union Street, approximately 700 kg of asphalt was used to repair potholes and 20 litres of paint were used to repaint pedestrian crossings.

The condition of the infrastructure around the school has deteriorated severely over the past few years that some of the potholes have become so large that parents can no longer safely drive there to drop off their children. This project forms part of AfriForum’s ongoing efforts to empower communities and provide practical solutions to municipal decline.

Years of poor maintenance and municipal deterioration have resulted in infrastructure around schools, hospitals, police stations and fire services being in a deplorable condition in many cases. In some areas, roads have deteriorated to such an extent that it has become almost impossible to use safely.

“AfriForum can undertake some of the smaller repair projects with the assistance of our members, but the scale of the damage is enormous. It will take years to eliminate the backlog in infrastructure maintenance and repairs,” says Christa Ikking, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Highlands.

This crisis is, however, not unique to Bethlehem. According to a presentation to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), all 23 municipalities in the Free State are currently experiencing financial distress, mainly due to poor revenue collection rates, overreliance on government grants, rising service delivery costs and weak financial management. This financial decline has a direct impact on infrastructure maintenance and service delivery, resulting in roads, stormwater systems and other public infrastructure deteriorating further year after year.

The deterioration of infrastructure around Maluti Hooglandskool is therefore symptomatic of a much larger problem in the Free State. Communities are consequently being forced to take increasing responsibility for the upkeep and restoration of their towns and public spaces.

AfriForum is establishing neighbourhood watch teams in numerous towns to empower communities to take responsibility for maintaining their surroundings where local authorities are failing. The Bethlehem neighbourhood watch team has already been providing sustainable service to the community for the past three years.

In addition to pothole repairs, the neighbourhood watch team is involved in clearing blocked drains, mowing grass in public spaces, helping during veld and grass fires and removing refuse – particularly in smallholding areas where the municipality fails to provide this service.

“We invite residents to support the neighbourhood watch team and make use of its services, thereby becoming part of the solution. When communities stand together, we can make a tangible difference and restore our towns to being functional and safe,” concludes Ikking.

Contact Ikking (066 486 7612) to get in touch with the AfriForum neighbourhood watch team in Bethlehem.