The Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources has concluded a week-long oversight visit to the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality in Cradock, South Africa. During the visit, the committee engaged with the municipality, stakeholders, and community development workers on socio-economic challenges, including a long-standing debt to Eskom. Issues raised included the loss of water service revenue due to the consolidation of water and sanitation services into the Chris Hani District Municipality, which has constrained municipal income and contributed to the Eskom debt. Other concerns included raw sewage pollution of the Fish River, the absence of an electricity master plan, and the dependence of small-scale farmers on a strategic partner. The engagements revealed significant challenges in municipal service provision, with civil society reportedly taking over many municipal functions.
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