Save Potchefstroom: It’s Time to Show Up and Speak Out
- Karen Scheepers
- Apr 20
- 2 min read
A Call to Action for Every Resident – Politics Aside, This is About Our Home
Potchefstroom is at a breaking point. Sewage spills are becoming the norm, not the exception. Parks, homes, and even the Mooi River are contaminated with raw sewage. Families are forced to live with unbearable stench, blocked toilets, and health risks that are nothing short of catastrophic.
Just last week, the JB Marks Concerned Citizens group took legal action against the municipality, demanding emergency interventions to fix burst sewage pipes and failed pump stations across Promosa, Baillie Park, Central Potchefstroom, and more.
And yet, shockingly, every year, R40 million allocated for municipal infrastructure upgrades goes unspent and is sent back to the National Treasury.
Let that sink in.
While our city collapses under the weight of a decaying sewage system, while our children walk to school past sewage-soaked streets, the money that could have fixed these problems is left untouched.
Now Is Our Moment to Demand Change
A Draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Budget Review meeting will be held on:
🗓 Wednesday, 7 May 2025
🕔 17:00
📍 Madiba Banqueting Halls
This is not just another meeting. This is where the future of our city’s budget is discussed — and where your voice can make the difference between R40 million being used to fix our sewage system, or vanishing back to Pretoria.
All affected wards, including Wards 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 28, will be represented by your elected councillors, many of whom are already trying to raise the alarm. But they can’t do it alone. They need you.
When the public shows up in numbers, the pressure becomes real. The spotlight turns to action, not excuses.
Why This Matters to Everyone, Regardless of Politics
This isn’t about party lines. This is about clean streets, working toilets, safe parks, and a city our children deserve. It’s about dignity.
Whether you voted or not, whether you support the current leadership or not, this is your city, and this is your money. And right now, your city is crying out for help.
What Can You Do?
📢 Attend the IDP Meeting on 7 May.
👥 Bring your family, your neighbours, your community groups.
📸 Share evidence of service delivery failures, every voice adds weight.
📝 Demand that this year’s R40 million allocation is used, not returned.
We Can’t Afford Another Lost Year
The legal action initiated by JBMCC has highlighted just how dire the situation is. The courts may compel the municipality to act, but real change will only come when the community stands together and makes it clear: enough is enough.
This is the time to rise above political divides and come together as residents of Potchefstroom. Let’s flood the meeting halls — not our streets.
Let’s Save Potchefstroom. Together.
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