The Democratic Alliance's (DA) mayoral candidate for Makana municipality, Luvuyo Sizani, has outlined the party's plans to address the municipality's challenges. Sizani emphasized that the DA's first priority will be to stabilize Makana's water supply through urgent repairs to critical infrastructure, including pumps, pipelines, and treatment works. A technical assessment will be conducted, and a funded repair plan with clear deadlines will be published. The goal is to provide a reliable and sustainable water supply.
The DA also plans to prioritize repairing ageing electricity infrastructure, protecting vulnerable substations and cables, and working with the police and communities to combat cable theft. Preventative maintenance and faster fault reporting will reduce avoidable outages. The party will review electricity losses, billing, and Eskom debt, while engaging Eskom on a sustainable repayment arrangement. Sizani stated that residents deserve a reliable electricity supply and transparent explanations for outages and rising costs.
The DA's plans also include prioritizing roads according to safety risks, traffic volumes, and access to essential services. A condition assessment will be conducted, and a phased road-repair program will be published based on available funding. Emergency pothole repairs and dangerous road conditions will receive urgent attention. Residents will be able to track progress through published project lists, ward meetings, and regular council reports.
The party also aims to prioritize compliance at the landfill, improve waste management planning, and ensure that court orders are implemented. Refuse collection schedules will be monitored, with clear channels for residents to report missed collections. The DA will identify illegal dumping hotspots, improve enforcement, and provide appropriate disposal options. Court orders must be obeyed, and officials responsible for non-compliance must be held accountable.
Sizani stated that the DA will take immediate steps to address municipal finances, including strengthening financial controls and addressing the Auditor-General's repeat findings. The party will enforce consequence management for financial misconduct and improve supply chain management, revenue collection, and expenditure controls. The DA will engage National Treasury with credible evidence that the municipality is addressing the conditions affecting its funding.
The DA also plans to examine the SIU's findings carefully, ensure that the municipality cooperates fully with lawful investigations, and demand the implementation of recommendations within its authority. Where evidence establishes misconduct, corruption, or unlawful expenditure, appropriate disciplinary, civil, or criminal proceedings must follow. The party will not protect anyone because of political connections.
Sizani emphasized that the municipality cannot create every job directly, but it can create conditions for businesses to grow and invest. The DA will improve basic services, reduce unnecessary administrative delays, support small businesses and informal traders, and promote tourism, agriculture, and local enterprise. The party will prioritize infrastructure maintenance and ensure that qualifying local businesses have fair opportunities to compete for municipal contracts under procurement law.
Key points
- The DA plans to prioritize service delivery and accountability in Makana municipality.
- The party aims to stabilize Makana's water supply and improve electricity infrastructure.
- The DA will prioritize compliance at the landfill and improve waste management planning.
