KOUGA – Kouga Local Municipality has welcomed Lunga Mahote as its new Area Engineer: Mechanical, bringing more than 25 years of engineering experience to a position central to the municipality’s efforts to maintain reliable infrastructure and services.
A qualified Mechanical Engineer, Mahote’s professional career spans more than 25 years in the engineering industry, including over 15 years in Water and Sanitation and more than 10 years in the automotive sector.
His experience covers the design and installation of mechanical systems, project work, professional consulting and maintenance, with a particular focus on reliability and cost-effectiveness.
“I am passionate about public service and making sure municipal infrastructure works for the people,” Mahote says. “I am excited to bring my engineering background and problem-solving approach to Kouga Local Municipality.”
Keeping essential services running
In his new role, Mahote is responsible for ensuring that mechanical assets within his area are functional, safe and properly maintained.
This includes the preventative and corrective maintenance of pumps, vehicles and plant equipment, contractor management, compliance with Supply Chain Management and Occupational Health and Safety requirements, budgeting and planning for upgrades, and working with other municipal departments to minimise downtime.
“Ultimately, it’s about keeping services running for the community,” he says.
For Mahote, preventative maintenance is one of the most important tools available to municipalities.
“Reactive maintenance is three to four times more expensive, and it causes service delivery protests. Preventative maintenance keeps water flowing, sewer pumps running, and vehicles on the road.”
He believes that maintaining infrastructure proactively not only saves public money and extends the lifespan of municipal assets, but also helps protect communities from unnecessary service disruptions.
“If we maintain today, we don’t repair in a crisis tomorrow.”
Combining experience with innovation
Mahote intends to build on the work already being done within Kouga while introducing practical improvements where these can strengthen service delivery.
One of his priorities is to preserve the institutional knowledge of municipal technicians, artisans and operators who have extensive experience with the municipality’s systems.
He also plans to focus on improved asset registers, record-keeping and planned maintenance schedules.
Among the innovations he would like to introduce are digital maintenance tracking, condition monitoring and telemetry systems that can allow certain equipment to be monitored remotely.
He also sees skills development as an important part of building sustainable municipal capacity.
“Upskill artisans and EPWP workers so we have more in-house capacity and reduce reliance on external contractors,” he says.
A team approach to service delivery
Mahote believes effective infrastructure management requires departments to work together.
“Mechanical can’t work if Civil, Electrical, Finance and SCM aren’t aligned. To me it means clear communication, respecting each department’s role, and having one goal: service delivery.”
His approach is guided by three core values: accountability, integrity and service.
During his first year, Mahote hopes to complete a comprehensive audit of mechanical assets, strengthen preventative maintenance and significantly reduce breakdowns while developing strong working relationships across the municipality.
His goal is straightforward: “My goal is to leave the systems in better condition than I found them.”
A message to the Kouga community
Mahote acknowledges the frustration residents experience when essential services are disrupted.
“To the Kouga community: I hear you. I know how frustrating it is when services are down.”
He says his commitment is to improve the reliability of the mechanical systems supporting water, sanitation and other municipal services.
Mahote also appealed to residents to help protect municipal infrastructure by using sewer systems responsibly and educating children about the importance of protecting public infrastructure.
“Do not throw foreign objects on your sewer systems, and educate the young ones at home, in churches, and in schools.”
Residents are urged to report vandalism and theft of municipal infrastructure to Kouga Local Municipality at 042 200 2200.
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