Residents of Ward 5 in Alexandria, Marite, gathered at Alexandria Sports Ground on 19 March as Bushbuckridge Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Lydia Matlanatso Moroane, hosted a community imbizo focused on service delivery and development.
The event began with the official handover of a R16 million paving project, which created 55 job opportunities for residents. As part of skills development, 30 local labourers received training during the project, while 23 small businesses were also included in the initiative.
Another major infrastructure development highlighted was a 22.5 km paving project valued at R26 million. The municipality handed over the site to contractor Madlemu on 15 November, with construction beginning on 11 December 2023 and reaching full completion by 11 August 2024. The project also created 55 employment opportunities for local labourers, contributing to economic upliftment in the area.
Addressing housing needs, Mayor Moroane assured residents that 40 houses will be built in Ward 4 and ward 5. She emphasised that due processes were followed in the allocation of these houses, with community members given a fair opportunity to apply.
The imbizo also served as a platform for residents to voice their concerns, with electricity emerging as the most pressing issue. Community members raised the alarm over ongoing power outages in areas around Acornhoek, alleging that residents are being asked to contribute money towards replacing damaged transformers.
According to residents, requested contributions have varied significantly, ranging from as little as R30 for households to as much as R1,500 for business owners. Some communities reported being without electricity for up to two months, while others expressed frustration over repeated demands for payments despite already contributing what they could afford.
Concerns were also raised about possible fraud and exploitation, with residents calling for investigations into the handling of these funds and the legitimacy of the requests.
In response, Mayor Moroane explained that Eskom currently faces budget constraints when it comes to repairing damaged transformers. She stated that when a fault is reported, Eskom conducts audits in affected areas to determine whether households are paying for electricity, and may then require contributions based on those findings.
The imbizo highlighted both progress in infrastructure development and the ongoing challenges faced by communities, particularly around access to reliable electricity, reinforcing the importance of continued engagement between residents and local government.
