MIDDELBURG – The Steve Tshwete Municipality has received a significant boost towards enhancing its service delivery with the addition of ten new Mahindra Light Delivery Vehicles (LDVs) valued at R4.8 million. The vehicles, consisting of 4 single cabs and 6 double cabs, were donated to the municipality on Friday, October 25, 2024, at the municipal headquarters by Liberty Coal and Veralogix.
Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela expressed gratitude for the donation, emphasizing its importance for improving service delivery. Mayor Masilela further assured residents during his remarks that the vehicles will be used in servicing the residents.
“We believe this will also assist in shortening the response time,” he said.
Masilela also urged other mining companies operating within the Steve Tshwete jurisdiction to “lend a helping hand” adding that the municipality needs to ensure that mines contribute to the development of citizens.
“We appreciate the two mines that have responded when we reached out for assistance.
Other mines are not coming to the forth in terms of the Social Labour Planning (SLP),” he said.
“I think we have to make sure as the municipality that we have a bylaw compelling them to deliver on commitments of their SLP.”
The donation comes in response to concerns raised by the mayor about the shortage of vehicles that has hindered the municipality’s ability to deliver essential services effectively. The new LDVs are expected to improve the municipality’s response times and operational efficiency.
Hlayiseka Chauke, Chief Operating Officer of Liberty Coal, explained that the donation was the result of discussions with the mayor, who highlighted the need for additional vehicles to support service delivery. “Ourselves [Liberty Coal] and Veralogix, agreed to partner with the municipality, and that resulted in the purchase of the LDVs,” he said.
Chauke added that Mahindra also donated two extra vehicles. “They donated two of the vehicles after we had a discussion with them to honour this commitment,” he stated.
Chauke further stated that their focus is currently fixed at fostering development around Middelburg and Hendrina communities. “Veralogix and Liberty Coal has got mining operations in other areas but our biggest operations is Optimum. If you look at Optimum, it is closer Hendrina and Middelburg.
This is where we really want to start from and make a positive impact.”
George Van Der Merwe, CEO of Veralogix, stressed the importance of collective action to improve the town’s development. “I grew up in this community and I feel strongly that this community is the key. I really want to start here and help. But I need everybody to help with me. It is just not me who can do this,” he said.
“I think here as Middelburg we need to stop focusing on the negative things, let’s start seeing how we can help to make things for the better.”
Van Der Merwe also shared his vision for Middelburg. “We need to start growing. If I look at this town, it’s shrinking. We are becoming smaller. Yes people are coming but it is not becoming the town that it used to be.
I really want to bring it where it was in the old days,” he articulated.
