GROUNDUP: Elections 2026: How this North West town went from boom to bust

Gideon Matseke, a resident of the township of Khuma in the City of Matlosana, describes his community as being "forgotten" by the local municipality. The area suffers from untarred roads that flood during heavy rain and stormwater pipes that have been left unused for two years without installation. Despite the 2024/25 annual report stating that the stormwater project is complete, residents still experience flooding and unreliable water and electricity supply.

The city, home to about 430,000 people, has seen decades of mine closures and municipal mismanagement. Klerksdorp, the administrative and economic centre, struggles with inconsistent water and electricity, deteriorating infrastructure, and collapsing services. Richard Ndlovu, a Kanana resident, complains about the unreliability of the water and sewage systems, which have led to his family often having to collect water from other areas for survival.

Gerard Horn, a long-term Klerksdorp resident, notes that municipal services are "collapsing" and is currently in a dispute over his utility bills.

Despite numerous calls for attention to the city's governance failures, factional battles, alleged corruption, and deteriorating service delivery, the city is now operating under a mandatory Section 139 Financial Recovery Plan. The National Treasury has withheld funds and the Auditor-General has flagged estimated billing for utilities.

The municipality owes significant amounts to the Midvaal Water Company and Eskom, limiting its ability to fund day-to-day operations. The lack of maintenance and underinvestment is evident in the city's high water losses and electricity losses, as well as the dysfunctional wastewater treatment works that pose environmental and health risks.