Premier Maape's Keep Mahikeng Clean Campaign - a clean city should be the norm and not a campaign

1 December 2021

Note to Editors: Kindly find attached soundbites in English by Freddy Sonakile MPL.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West notes the launch of the Keep Mahikeng Clean Campaign and Infrastructure Renewal Programme by Premier Bushy Maape in conjunction with the Department of Public Works and Roads and the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism. However, cleaning the city should be a top priority of every municipality in North West.

Having a clean city with working infrastructure should be the norm and not just a project. The mere fact that the Premier must ditch all his tasks to encourage the municipality to do its work is inconceivable.

The North West Province is well known for its mediocre service delivery throughout its municipalities in general.

Millions were forked out on a similar campaign called the Mafikeng Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal project during Supra Mahumapelo's reign a few years ago. Included in this campaign were substantial budgets for clean-up campaigns. But the fruits of that expensive drive were never to be seen.

The DA will keep a watchful eye on the campaign and the financial implications it has on the people of North West.

We will also take Premier Bushy Maape to task and request him to reveal what happened to the millions budgeted for the Mafikeng Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal project, as well as details on the actions taken against those who squandered those millions.

Spending additional millions on something which is already supposed to be done by municipalities and the Department of Public Works is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.

Issued by Freddy Sonakile, DA Caucus Leader, North West Provincial Legislature, 1 December 2021