The town of Beaufort West, known as the capital of the Karoo, has been grappling with the consequences of a decade-long crisis. GroundUp visited the area and found that residents are struggling with basic services such as electricity, water, and sanitation. Elaine Wessels, a 60-year-old resident of Rustdene, has lived in the area for 35 years and highlighted the lack of streetlights, poor road conditions, and inadequate response to service complaints as major concerns.
Wessels' neighborhood is just one example of the many areas in Beaufort West that are plagued by infrastructure challenges. Riaan Botes, another resident, is disputing an R11,000 water bill caused by a leak, which he claims is not his responsibility. The municipality's failure to maintain its infrastructure has resulted in frequent water outages and poor waste management. Community activist Linda Minnies took GroundUp on a tour of the town, revealing an overflowing drain in Long Street that was spilling sewer water into the yard of a creche.
The Beaufort West Local Municipality has experienced significant political instability over the past decade. Since the 2016 elections, the municipality has been run by various coalitions, including a DA-led coalition, an ANC and Karoo Democratic Force (KDF) coalition, and an ANC, PA, and KDF coalition. The town has had four PA mayors in three years, including Ashley Sauls and Ebenezer Botha, who resigned due to controversy. The Central Karoo District Municipality, which oversees several local municipalities, including Beaufort West, has also experienced instability.
The municipality's financial struggles are evident in its failure to pay suppliers on time and its significant debt to Eskom. By June 2022, the municipality owed R120-million, with R80-million owed to Eskom. The municipality's recovery plan has seen a third of its Eskom debt written off, but collection rates remain below target, and cash reserves are thin. The municipality's 2024/25 audit was its best audit opinion in years, but it still has a long way to go in terms of financial management.
The municipality's infrastructure challenges are further complicated by its reliance on grants. Acting municipal manager Gerald Esau told GroundUp that the municipality is grant-dependent and that ageing water infrastructure has resulted in frequent water outages. However, the municipality has a poor track record of spending grants, with R39.9-million withheld in July due to non-compliance. The municipality had R62-million in unauthorised, irregular, and fruitless expenditure at the time.
Despite the challenges, there are efforts underway to address the municipality's infrastructure needs. Esau said the municipality has a "master list" of streets that need attention and will be applying for a Municipal Infrastructure Grant for extra high mast lights. However, the municipality's recreational facilities, such as the Beaufort West Rugby Stadium clubhouse, lie unused, awaiting repairs and upgrades. The clubhouse's ceilings are broken, and paint is peeling off the walls.
The situation in Beaufort West highlights the need for effective governance and infrastructure management. With the local government elections approaching, residents are hoping for a change in leadership that will address the town's long-standing challenges. Key to this will be the implementation of a comprehensive plan to address the municipality's infrastructure needs and improve service delivery.
Key points
- The Beaufort West Local Municipality has experienced a decade of political instability, with multiple changes in leadership and coalitions.
- The municipality is struggling with infrastructure challenges, including poor road conditions, inadequate street lighting, and frequent water outages.
- The municipality's financial struggles are evident in its significant debt to Eskom and its reliance on grants.
