Concerns have emerged regarding the condition of several municipal buildings within the Setsoto Local Municipality, which encompasses the towns of Marquard, Clocolan, Ficksburg, and Senekal.
Among the affected properties are the town halls of the aforementioned towns, though the issue extends beyond these locations, with many buildings now deemed unsuitable for public use.
“These buildings, once central to the community, have been left to deteriorate, posing significant health and safety risks to residents,” says Jose Coetzee, a DA councillor of the Setsoto Municipality.
“During multiple oversight visits to municipally-owned properties, the DA’s Setsoto Caucus has observed alarming structural decay in key public buildings. Despite their dilapidated state, these facilities are still in regular use”, says Coetzee.
Coetzee emphasises the need for urgent action, demanding an action plan from the municipality to restore the neglected buildings in compliance with South Africa’s National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) of 1999.
Furthermore, he questions whether the municipality is making effective use of its in-house building department and inspectors to assess the structural integrity, safety, and electrical compliance of these properties. He calls for a comprehensive structural and risk audit to confirm that many of these buildings are no longer safe for public use.
“Given that these buildings are often used for public gatherings and leased to the community, the municipality faces serious legal liability if accidents occur due to their deteriorating conditions. The ongoing neglect reflects a severe failure in maintenance, transforming once-proud establishments into crumbling structures.”
