The city of Kimberley has long been plagued with issues of poor service delivery. While it is easy to point fingers solely at the African National Congress (ANC) as the ruling party, it is crucial to recognize that the Democratic Alliance (DA), and all other political parties with representation in council, also bears responsibility for the dismal state of the city. It is imperative to hold the ANC, DA, VF Plus and even COPE accountable for their lackluster performance in their own run wards, as well as their failure to ensure proper service delivery in the municipality.
Lacklustre DA-Run Wards
The DA’s performance within its own run wards in Kimberley has been lackluster at best. These areas are marred by dilapidated roads, overgrown areas, unattended rubble, and refuse, which contribute to an overall dirty and neglected environment. The lack of infrastructure development and maintenance further exacerbate these issues. Perhaps most concerning is the poor enforcement and control of waste fires, which pose a significant risk to both the environment and public health.
Selective Engagement
The DA seems more focused on cultivating an image of success on social media rather than addressing the concerns raised by residents in community Facebook groups. While their self-promotion gains media attention, residents’ genuine worries go unanswered. Notably, the DA councillors fail to respond in critical groups like the Kimberley Infrastructure group. Instead, they prioritize responding to the elite or socially connected individuals for their own political gain. This blatant neglect of community concerns is evident, as residents from the wards they are meant to serve are routinely ignored, receiving nothing but empty promises and contact cards.
Failure of Oversight
The DA’s claims of conducting numerous oversight visits serve as empty rhetoric. While they watch on, municipal services, infrastructure, and community environmental health continue to deteriorate. Despite being well aware of these issues, they conveniently shift the blame to the ANC, claiming that their hands are tied due to their minority status. However, if the ANC were solely responsible, the DA would have easily upended their reign with proper governance. The fact that ANC voters experience better service delivery than DA-run wards indicates a failure on the part of the DA.
Lack of Accountability
The DA’s failure to ensure accountability is inexcusable. They enjoy lavish salaries while neglecting their responsibility to report community issues and ensure proper service delivery. A prime example is the lack of garbage collection audits to identify areas of improvement or cost-saving measures. Additionally, the DA neglects to push for the enforcement of essential city bylaws that address the burning of waste, public urination, drinking in public, lawless driving, and illegal dumping of construction waste. These oversights demonstrate a blatant disregard for the well-being and safety of Kimberley residents.
The DA in Kimberley fails to represent the standards set by their Cape Town counterparts. Instead, they are content with employing blame tactics and engaging in token community stints for political gain. It is disappointing to see how all political parties operating in Kimberley seem more concerned with their personal gain than with genuinely serving the city and its residents.
Regardless of political affiliation, all councillors should prioritize equal service delivery. By ignoring their responsibility to the people, the DA has become complicit in the deterioration of infrastructure and services in Kimberley. It is high time that they abandon their finger-pointing approach and focus on actively addressing the issues facing the city.
Tags: DA Democratic Alliance