While Msukaligwa Local Municipality has replaced a section of sewerage line, the damage is already done, and raw sewage continues to pollute the environment and underground water sources. Residents of Extension 7 have to make do with the raw sewage flowing past their dwellings, along with a wide range of garbage, animal carcasses and other debris floating in the sewage.

"Msukaligwa Local Municipality is currently engaged in the processes of establishing the Local Economic Development Forum. The community and all interested groups are called upon to participate in thus process in order to formalize our economic efforts in a streamlined manner. "

With the envisaged call centre, there will be a shift supervisor, and all conversations will be recorded between the caller and the call centre agent. The municipality will be also be able to track dropped and missed call through the new call centre solution systems. We appeal to the community to bear with us while we are attending to the call centre infrastructure, and professionalizing it.

Rietspruit Farm was also the star of a dodgy deal saga, that involved the DOHS state security minister, one Bongani Bongo. At the time, Bongo was the head of legal at Mpumalanga DOHS, where Rietspruit Farm was purchased by the department for a whopping R36 million. It came to light that the farm was actually valued at a mere R12 million.

"The occupiers were given fourteen days to vacate the above properties, and/or interdicted from preventing or obstructing the municipal officials or employees or contractors to access the properties, in performance and compliance with their legal duties and/or obligations. They were also ordered to dismantle and remove the incomplete structures erected at these properties on or before 20 August 2020."

In August 2018, the recovery plan was announced to deal with the two major aspects of revenue streams, namely, revenue generation strategies and creditor repayment. However, despite being adopted and implemented by local councils, the situations in Emalahleni, Lekwa, Msukaligwa, Mkhondo and Govan Mbeki local municipalities have exponentially worsened while being under a provincial intervention.

“I care for a disabled family member, which makes it difficult to travel within Wesselton. Everything is falling apart, an nobody is listening to us. We are without electricity a lot of the time. Innocent residents are suffering due to illegal connections. Not all of us are part of the “izinyoka”, yet some of us have no other choice. We will wait for municipality technicians until Jehova comes,” a picketer lamented.

After the failed submission, Mr. Mndebele, appointed in 2018, was suspended with immediate effect during a virtual council meeting. He was suspended with full salary. The director for community service, Ms. Tshabalala, has been pointed as acting municipal manager.

The work is at 90%, the municipality has upgraded the sewer line in the area by installing two new manhole, three length pipe and team needs to jet spray the line.” MLM stated. The raw sewage overflow in the adjacent field is still present, and will be resolved as work is completed, according to MLM.

“Clients have a difficult time reaching our premises, and have to take unnecessary alternative routes. The stench also makes it unbearable to open any windows or doors at our establishment,” a local business owner lamented. The road, which is already in a disturbingly shoddy state, has eroded to such an extent that sinkholes of nearly 40cm are present, filled with raw sewage.

The Pet Dam has returned to its former glory of infamous party site, with no adherence to social distancing. Residents who dance and drink their nights away at the dam do not wear masks or adhere to social hygiene, urinate and defecate in the dam and on the surround shores, thereby risking cross contamination.

“The municipality expects that before residents go to work, they switch off unused appliances. Why should they switch on appliances like geysers, televisions, etc. when they are not at home?” MLM stated.