Hundreds of residents in Mpumalanga commemorated the 32nd Freedom Day in Phola near White River, while highlighting persistent shortages of water and electricity. Local officials acknowledged these service delivery challenges as the country prepares for local government elections.
Hundreds gathered in Phola, near White River in Mpumalanga, to mark South Africa's 32nd Freedom Day on April 27. Government services were offered outside the main venue amid celebrations.
Residents voiced long-standing grievances over basic services. One local said, “Where we are staying, we have not had electricity for five months. We are suffering without electricity, we also do not have water, and we are struggling with everything. No one is helping us with anything. We are suffering a lot because we have to fetch water from wells. Everything is not alright.” Another noted some progress, stating, “Where I’m from we have pavements now but we are still struggling with water but we are getting there.”
Public Service Commission Provincial Commissioner Bheki Zulu attended and pointed to government achievements alongside hurdles. “We have seen our government has done a lot but we have witnessed some challenges in terms of service delivery. We are experiencing challenges in terms of corruption and people looting government coffers which should be assisting our people to close those gaps and deliver on the people’s expectations,” Zulu said.
Premier Mandla Ndlovu engaged with communities and recognised the need for better services. “We were interacting with members of our communities who are telling us that they are still yearning for service delivery. They know that there is still much to be done by our government," Ndlovu stated. He urged residents to register and vote in the upcoming local government elections and mentioned writing to President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding allegations by suspended provincial commissioner Smakaleng Manamela.