The Democratic Alliance is extremely pleased that the Wastewater Treatment Works in the Amahlathi Local Municipality has been repaired, and that the electricity grid to the plant has been upgraded, following our calls for intervention.
Since December 2019, the wastewater treatment plant had no electricity. In February this year, a generator was installed by the Amatole District Municipality, which was only capable of providing electricity to treat less than half of the raw effluent.
The remaining untreated sewage was flowing freely into nearby rivers. This contaminated river water then made its way into the Wrigglewades Dam, which supplies water to BCM residents!
The DA was made aware of the issues at the treatment works, following an outcry from the residents of Stutterheim, and immediately brought the matter to the attention of the MEC of COGTA, Xolile Nqatha through two sets of parliamentary questions.
I further raised the matter before a full sitting of the provincial legislature last month, as it is unacceptable that the health of residents is placed at risk through failing infrastructure.
The DA will also continue to fight to ensure that the scarce water resources of the province are protected.
The Amahlathi Local Municipality has been broken down by mismanagement, municipal jobs for sex scandals, jobs for sale, rampant corruption and failing infrastructure for many years.
The DA wants to see an Eastern Cape government that builds the province up, and these interventions are the first step in getting service delivery in the Amahlathi Local municipality back on track.
A working municipality, with working services, produces a stable environment that encourages business investment, which leads to saving existing jobs and further job creation.
The DA will continue to fight for the people of Amahlathi to ensure that there is a capable government looking after them.
The people of Stutterheim deserve to live in a community where, at the very least, basic services are stable and readily available.