South African municipality pays R15 million a month for water its residents don’t receive

Residents of the Moretele Local Municipality continue to face water shortages due to leaking pipes, deteriorating infrastructure, and inadequate maintenance.

This is despite the municipality’s payments to Magalies Water rising from R6 million to R15 million per month, for which it receives 30 megalitres of water.

This was revealed by the municipality’s Director of Infrastructure Development, Pholoso Molautsi, before the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation.

Some residents of the municipality have reportedly been without running water for over a decade, impacting their livelihoods and their businesses.

Moretele councillor Sefofu Modisa said the lack of proper infrastructure maintenance worsened the crisis, particularly during summer when water demand is higher.

“Every rand spent on water must translate into water flowing from residents’ taps,” Modisa said. 

“Residents should not have to endure years without running water while the municipality fails to maintain its infrastructure.”

Modisa called on the Moretele Local Municipality to account for its water expenditure, address infrastructure failures, and ensure that residents receive an adequate water supply.

In March 2026, the Department of Water and Sanitation handed over the Moretele South West Far Pipeline Project to the municipality, in partnership with Magalies Water.

The project comprises three steel tanks, a concrete reservoir, and 2,500 yard connections in Mogogelo and Ratjiepane, with further benefits extending to other towns in the municipality.

The project aimed to restore a sustainable water supply to the municipality and expand access to clean, reliable water at the household level.

The Moretele Local Municipality falls under the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality in the upper-right corner of South Africa’s North West province.

The municipality’s population was recorded at 219,120 in the 2022 National Census, with 88% of its people residing in traditional, rural areas.

The municipal seat is located in the village of Makapanstad, which is located 78 km northwest of Pretoria and is governed by the Bakgatla Ba Mosetlha royal family.