The ongoing sewerage crisis in Lichtenburg has reached a critical point, prompting Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motswaledi to call on local Mayors to take immediate action. This plea comes in the wake of flooding at the General Delarey Hospital which led to the emergency transfer of 33 patients to other health facilities in the province.
Accompanying Motswaledi during his inspection were North West MEC for Health Sello Lehari, senior provincial officials, national representatives, and engineers. This team assessed the extent of damage caused by an unusually heavy rainfall that resulted in over 10% of Lichtenburg’s annual rainfall falling in a single day. Such an unprecedented weather event, coupled with the poorly maintained drainage systems in the Ditsobotla local municipality, contributed significantly to the flooding incidents.
Motswaledi did not mince words regarding the responsibilities of local governance, directing his comments towards the Mayors of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District and Ditsobotla local municipality, Cllr Khumalo Molefe and Cllr Thabo Nkashe. “We think the Mayors must do their work first,” he asserted, emphasising the need for “all the sewerage systems throughout the town [to be] unblocked, including the hospital’s sewerage system before we can even think about bringing back the patients here.”
His critique of the Ditsobotla local municipality was pointed. “I have actually seen around, we can summarise the problem here in two ways, number one Ditsobotla local municipality… but number 2 climate change,” he noted, attributing the drainage issues partly to extreme weather conditions. It is clear that urgent measures are necessary to remedy the situation, as Motswaledi stressed the importance of addressing infrastructural shortcomings to avoid further crises in the community.
Fortunately, the flooding issues did not have severe repercussions for other health facilities in the province. The minister highlighted that “in Moses Kotane hospital in Ledig outside Rustenburg the flooding issue was addressed within two hours and the situation was then returned to normal” and recognised the quick response efforts at the Lehurutshe facility as well. These swift actions contrasted starkly with the ongoing challenges faced by Lichtenburg.
As Lichtenburg grapples with the interlinked issues of inadequate infrastructure and climate complications, the ensuing calls for accountability and remedial action from local leaders remain essential, representing not just a localised emergency, but a reflection of wider infrastructural challenges faced across South Africa.
