Masilonyana Communications: Mayor of Masilonyana Local Municipality, Cllr.
Steven Koalane, published and kick-started his Programme of Action (POA). The
POA which focuses on outlining the implementation plan is a combination of local
approaches of ThumaMina Service Delivery Campaign and Operation Hlasela.
The programme kick-started with the Municipality holding a successful two day
Strategic Planning Session on the 25th to 26th June 2018, in Winburg and was
followed by the issuing of Title Deeds on the 11th July 2018, in Theunissen and
Winburg. The programme for issuing of Title Deeds is an ongoing programme and as
the programme of action is rolled out, the Municipality will continue distributing them.
The Strategic Planning Session gave Council and Management an opportunity to
reflect and develop a turnaround strategy to mitigate the declining revenue and
reduce the increasing rate of litigations.
It was resolved that the Municipality needed to adopt an approach which will
effectively maximize its limited resources to enhance service delivery.
This Mayoral Programme of Action will be an ongoing programme of which in the
month of August and September 2018, will be targeting women and young women to
coincide with Women’s Month.
Attached below is the Programme of Action and the Municipal Turnaround Strategy
from the Strategic Planning Session.

ThumaMina Action Plan pdf

MASILONYANA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING REPORT 2018

 NOTICE: ESKOM’S INTERRUPTION OF BULK ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO MASILONYANA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

 Following Eskom’s notice (Interruption of Bulk Electricity Supply to Masilonyana Local Municipality), published in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, Act 3 of 2000 (PAJA). Eskom is contemplating regulated interruption of electricity supply due to the Municipality’s failure to honour its payment agreement entered into with Eskom.

 Members of the community, residents and businesses who are to be materially and adversely affected by Eskom’s contemplated interruption of bulk electricity supply will be allowed an opportunity to make alternative arrangements for the scheduled periods of interruption.

 The daily scheduled periods of interruption which will commence from the 28^th February 2018 are as follows:

 Week 1:

 Week 2:

Week 3:

Notwithstanding the above proposed indicative times for the interruption of electricity supply, Eskom may, upon 15 calendar days’ notice, serve the right to disconnect electricity entirely and indefinitely should the electricity debt situation not improve.

The following towns/municipal areas shall be affected by the contemplated interruption and/or disconnection, except those directly supplied by Eskom.

Masilonyana Local Municipality/Customer Affected Towns/Points of Supply

• Brandfort • Theunissen • Winburg • Verkeerdevlei

 The Municipality has to this date continued to engage with Eskom in order to find a sustainable solution which will also be in the best interests of its consumers. Despite these engagements, the municipality has tried its best under the circumstances to keep up with its Eskom debt of R48, 5 million.

 Notwithstanding that the Municipality’s Eskom debt keeps on escalating and regardless of inconsistent servicing of Municipal Eskom debt, it is fundamental to point out that such payments were made against limited revenue generated by the Municipality due to poor payment of services by consumers.

 Equally, the harsh reality for the Municipality is that Eskom is not the only creditor of bulk services that the Municipality has, the Municipality also has to incur expenses for bulk raw water supply, chemicals for water purification, fuel costs and other operational costs amongst others.

 It is however, regrettable and unfortunate that should Eskom proceed with these power cuts, they will further add to the negative investor confidence in the municipality, negatively affect socio-economic activities, and adversely impact on the quality of life of the people of Masilonyana, which will ultimately fuel economic decline and unemployment.

 For more information and enquiries please contact Zongezile Ntjwabule at 073 595 4973 or zongezile@masilonyana.co.za

 We apologize for any inconvenience caused and wish to advise that the situation receives our priority attention.

 ____________________

Tsekedi (Mr.)

Municipal Manager

Masilonyana Local Municipality

 26/02/2018

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR ON LOCAL DISASTER OPERATIONS

 Fellow residents of Masilonyana, on the night of Wednesday, 31^st January 2018, torrential storms swept across the municipality, leaving catastrophic disaster in three of our towns: Winburg, Brandfort and Theunissen which was the hardest hit.

In Theunissen, trees were uprooted; some roads damaged, some electrical poles broken and most overhead powerlines damaged thereby affecting electricity, IT networks, sewer, refuse removal, traffic and water supply.

The municipality has already begun with mop up operations; however, motorists are still urged to be on a lookout for uprooted trees and potholes on the roads.

A minimum portion of electricity supply has been restored in some parts of Masilo and Theunissen. However, the municipality still wishes to warn the community against powerlines that are hanging low and must be treated as live at all times. It must also be noted that some of the lines referred to above, need complete rebuilding and reconnection.

As a result of electricity restoration on pump stations and water works, water supply is being restored and normal water supply will be available as soon as possible.

We sympathize with those that have sustained injuries and suffered damages. In the light of cash flow incapacities, the municipality has also elevated the situation to district municipality, provincial and national governments. Residents are therefore urged to bear with us, for, return to normal provision of services will take time.

For more information and assistance contact T. Molete at 073 999 2254, N.C Mohapi at 073 166 6557 and K.A Klaas at 083 404 8644

For more information and media enquiries please contact Zongezile Ntjwabule at 073 595 4973 or zongezile@masilonyana.co.za

Many thanks for your cooperation

 N.A Mochana 

The Mayor

Masilonyana Local Municipality

On the night of Wednesday, 31 January 2018, torrential storms swept across Masilonyana Local Municipality, leaving a trail of disaster. The affected towns were Winburg/Makeleketla, Brandfort/Majwemasweu and Theunissen/Masilo, with Theunissen/Masilo being the hardest hit.

In Theunissen, trees were uprooted; some roads damaged, electrical poles broken and most overhead powerlines were also damaged thereby affecting electricity and water supply, IT networks, sewer, refuse removal and traffic.

There were five (5) cases of injuries but not severe, which were reported and these included two (2) minor children (3 year old and 4 year old) and one (1) pensioner (75 year old).  Two cows were also electrocuted in a nearby farm and chicken pen and pig sty buildings destroyed as well.

Approximately 450 houses including public places such as churches, old age homes and day care centres were affected across all 3 towns.

2494 Maqhekung (Old Age Home) – Roofing and wall

2512 Lusaka – Shack damage

Church near Thuta Gauta Funeral Palour

Masilonyana Local Municipality in the northern Free State has embarked on a project to move raw bulk water via a pipeline from the Sandvet Canal via Theunissen to Brandfort which has struggled with perennial water shortages over the years.

Masilonyana executive mayor Stephen Koalane said the move was aimed at bringing a sustainable solution to the Brandfort water challenges and address socio-economic situation of the community.

He said the department of water and sanitation had allocated nearly R82.8-million for the construction of the bulk raw water pipeline in Brandfort funded under a multi-year project through the regional bulk infrastructure grant.

“Through the municipal infrastructure grant we have spent over R21-million for the upgrading of the water treatment works and pump station,” said Koalane.

He said R1.8-million will be spent on the refurbishment of the Brandfort water treatment works through the accelerated community infrastructure projects.

The municipality also got approval for construction of a bulk raw water pipeline to Winburg for R90-million which will be connected to Sedibeng Water.

“We have also spent more than R31-million on installations of household, bulk and zone water meters in all towns,” said Koalane.

“Three boreholes to the value of R24-million were installed in Winburg to augment water supply into the Winburg water treatment plant.”

The mayor said the municipality was also going to spend a total of R6.1-million from its capital budget to refurbish both the Theunissen and Brandfort waste water treatment works.

He said the projects were expected to address the issue of the ever recurring sewer spillages.

The Winburg waste water treatment works is also being upgraded for R14.5-million.

And in line with the government’s plan to eliminate the bucket system as part of restoring people’s dignity, the human settlement department appointed Babereki Consulting to implement the rapid bucket eradication programme in Winburg and Theunissen.

In Theunissen, the project includes the installation of house connections to the value of R43.5-million with 55 jobs created.

About 549 toilets are also set to be built at a cost R4.7-million with 25 labourers employed and seven contractors contracted.

The Winburg project, according to the mayor, is valued at R6.2-million and 12 jobs were created.

The municipality, which carrying out several projects in the current financial year, has also appointed a service provider to survey and open a register in Soutpan and Verkeerdevlei for the recently approved township establishments.

The process is expected to take two months.

About 312 residential stands and five public sites were approved for Verkeerdevlei and 98 residential stands were approved in Soutpan.

It is also looking at building recreational facilities, developing new business centres, fencing various municipal amenities such as cemeteries, water treatment plants and recreational facilities.

Among its future projects, Masilonyana wants to construct a one mega-litre storage reservoir in Soutpan/Ikgomotseng for R3.2-million.

It will upgrade water treatment works in Theunissen phase two for R4.8-million.

The municipality also wants to upgrade the old Masilo Stadium at a cost of R7-million from the 15 percent of its municipal infrastructure grant allocation.

It has applied to the department of energy for R80-million for a project to upgrade and refurbish the Masilonyana electricity supply, among other projects.