Lichtenburg, North West — As the November 4 local government elections approach, the African Revolutionary Council (ARC) is intensifying its door-to-door campaigns in Ditsobotla Municipality, promising to reverse years of severe service delivery failures and governance challenges.
Leading the charge is Mr. Job, the leader of the African Revolutionary Council, who has been taking the party’s manifesto directly to the residents. Speaking on the core pillars of their campaign, Mr. Job highlighted that the party is primarily pushing for immediate and comprehensive service delivery improvements in the troubled municipality.
According to Mr. Job, the community is experiencing a dire situation characterized by a complete lack of refuse removal, persistent water shortages, and deteriorating road conditions. Furthermore, he pointed out a severe absence of basic sanitation, medical services, and adequate policing, noting that the large community does not even have a local police station. The education sector is equally crippled; Mr. Job described local schools as being housed in temporary classroom arrangements, with a distinct lack of proper primary, intermediate, and high school facilities.
The ARC leader attributes these compounding crises directly to corruption. He argued that the misappropriation and misuse of municipal funds are the root causes of the community’s plight, asserting that if the money were properly channeled, it would effectively reach and address the pressing needs of the residents.
Beyond infrastructure, the party is also tackling the rampant unemployment in the area. Mr. Job noted that despite many youths completing their matric and obtaining further qualifications, job opportunities remain virtually non-existent, leaving the younger generation deeply frustrated.
The campaign has heavily focused on Ward 3, an area in the Lichtenburg district that Mr. Job describes as one of the most neglected communities in the district. On the ground, the physical realities of this neglect are stark. Residents are still living in shacks, and uncollected refuse has led to the proliferation of illegal dumping sites.
The mood among the electorate is notably heavy. Mr. Job reported that elderly residents are deeply demoralized, with some expressing that they no longer want to vote. Similarly, the youth are disheartened by the lack of employment prospects. He shared that residents frequently knock on the doors of ordinary community members, pleading for intervention because they feel the “ship of the community is sinking” and that they have been left entirely alone.
Despite the widespread apathy, the African Revolutionary Council is working hard to convince residents that voting on November 4 remains their only hope for change. Mr. Job emphasized a shifting political landscape, noting that modern voters are moving away from historical party loyalties. Instead, communities are now evaluating leaders based on how they live and the tangible impact they have on the daily lives of the people they represent.
