DIHLABENG INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT 54% VACANCY RATE @KASIBC_NEWS

DIHLABENG INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT 54% VACANCY RATE @KASIBC_NEWS 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Dihlabeng has requested an urgent performance audit of the Infrastructure Department to identify internal bottlenecks and hold senior officials accountable for the inaction regarding the deteriorating state of service delivery.

This is a direct result of the Infrastructure and Public Works Department operating at a staggering 54% staff vacancy rate.

This failure to fill critical positions is not just an administrative issue but a direct assault on the constitutional right of residents to basic services.

Infrastructure is the backbone of any municipality. Without the necessary personnel, Dihlabeng’s ability to maintain roads, respond to water leaks, manage sewerage systems, and uphold public safety infrastructure is collapsing before our eyes.

Communities are suffering, and the ANC-led administration has no plan to arrest this decline.

The DA continues to receive daily complaints from residents across the entire Dihlabeng Municipality.

This collapse in service delivery is due to a failure of governance, planning, and political will.

The remaining employees in the Infrastructure Department are overburdened and under-supported. Staff are working excessive overtime to compensate for the shortfall, leading to exhaustion, low morale, and mistakes that further delay service delivery. This is unsustainable and dangerous.

The DA in Dihlabeng is proposing the following immediate and long-term interventions to stabilise the department and restore service delivery:

Declaration of a Local Infrastructure Emergency

The municipality must formally declare an Infrastructure Emergency to unlock special funding and support from the Free State Provincial Government.

Urgent filling of critical posts

We are demanding that all funded and vacant technical posts be advertised and filled within 60 days. We will table a motion in Council for quarterly reporting on progress.

Deploy retired Engineers and artisans

Engage qualified retirees on short-term contracts to stabilise operations while permanent recruitment continues.

Accelerate learnerships and internships

Fast-track DA supported partnerships with colleges to place young artisans into municipal departments with structured mentorship.

Ward-based maintenance teams

Establish community-based maintenance teams under municipal supervision to assist with basic repairs, road patching, and cleaning while skilled staff focus on technical duties.

Transparent reporting to residents

A weekly Service Delivery Report should be published publicly to track complaints, repairs, and departmental performance. The DA will initiate this transparency through its own Ward Councillors when the administration fails to act.

The current state of Dihlabeng’s infrastructure is unacceptable. It is not only a result of capacity; it is a symptom of broken leadership. 

The DA is committed to fixing what is broken by focusing on clean governance, professional administration, and people-centred service delivery.

We will not allow the residents of Dihlabeng to be forgotten.