Smaller opposition parties in Standerton are hoping to capitalise on the ANC's failures that led to the collapse of the Lekwa local municipality to win votes in next month's local government elections.
Wilma Venter, a candidate of the Freedom Front Plus in Standerton, said her party has taken the mandate to restore the dignity of the town by fighting for decent service delivery for the community.
"We are a small party but the work we have done in assisting the community in the past five years is remarkable. We have become the mediator between the community and the municipality," said Venter.
Venter said she personally had to call, e-mail and follow up on power cuts and waste collection in Lekwa and the closure of deadly storm drains that were hazardous for children.
She said she had to watch in pain the deterioration of the town's infrastructure in recent years.
"Over 50 roads have been left as a death trap here. If you drive around you'll see that the potholes have gone beyond being potholes. They are dug up holes, some knee high, when there's rains it's worse," she said.
"There have been deadly accidents and cars are damaged."
She said the municipality should still answer for all the infrastructure damage that has left many houses with cracks and dug-up trenches to redirect the sewage.
The EFF said it was positive that the ANC would lose its bigger wards in the Standerton CBD, Rooikopan township, Flora Park, Cosmos Park and in Ext 8.
EFF secretary in ward 8 Mathapelo Tsotetsi said the ANC has failed to deliver services and restore the dignity of residents and to maintain the rich economy in Lekwa.
"We have given the ANC plenty of room to walk all over our heads, now it's time for action. The people need to realise that the causes for the collapse of the municipality need not be overlooked. We need all the corrupt government officials to account for their involvement in mismanagement of funds, maladministration and criminality on state funds and assets," she said.
"The sewage crisis has worsened. We are holding on to empty promises. They have been singing the same song for change but we have witnessed none. They clearly cannot handle the heat, so they must get out of the kitchen and give better players a chance."
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