Municipality spent R20 million on a water project but it only works on Tuesdays

Many residents in Bushbuckridge reported receiving water only on Tuesdays, while others don’t receive water at all.

This is despite the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality spending R20 million to reticulate water to these communities.

Canuel Mnisi, a councillor in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, has raised concerns about the lack of service delivery in the area.

He has called on the municipal manager, Jasper Ngobeni, to initiate an investigation into the dysfunctional water tanks in the municipality.

Mnisi said that the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) has previously raised concerns about a water reticulation project.

He explained that the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality undertook to erect a 240 kilolitre steel tank and to connect 580 yard metres.

However, many residents reported receiving water only on Tuesdays, despite the multi-million-rand project.

“The community of Kurhula and Tiyakeni stated that they do not receive water at all because the tank does not fill enough to supply the village,” Mnisi said.

“It is concerning that although the municipality spent R20 million to reticulate water to these communities, water challenges remain prone,” he said.

“This is partly because the municipality fills this tank for only 3 hours, while it should take an average of 4.8 days.”

He said that the municipality’s inability to manage critical projects has inconvenienced residents of Bushbuckridge.

“The municipality’s ageing infrastructure, water leaks and growing population have also made the situation even worse,” he said.

“The water crisis in Bushbuckridge is worrisome as residents are deprived of basic services due to poor governance.”

“The municipality is failing in its responsibility of providing water and sanitation to communities in a sustainable manner.”