Taps in one province left dry despite President Cyril Ramaphosa R156 billion investment promise
The Free State is experiencing a water crisis, with some areas left without a reliable water supply for 18 years.
This is feedback from David McKay, the Democratic Alliance’s Spokesperson for CoGTA in the Free State Legislature.
McKay said that they have submitted questions to the Free State Department of CoGTA and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) regarding the province’s water crisis.
“We will launch oversight visits and submit formal complaints to the Department of Water and Sanitation regarding ongoing failures in municipalities,” he said.
He cited President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a R156 billion investment to address South Africa’s water crisis.
“We are concerned that this commitment has not delivered any proactive planned improvements for the people of the Free State,” he said.
“Despite national promises and the establishment of the National Water Crisis Committee, Free State municipalities remain in a state of collapse.”
McKay said that communities across the Free State are facing daily indignities and health risks from persistent water failures.
“In Matjhabeng, some areas have lacked a reliable water supply for an unconscionable 18 years,” he said.
Winburg in Masilonyana has endured a complete water blackout for eight weeks, leaving residents to fend for themselves.
Letsemeng and Metsimaholo municipalities are plagued by water shedding and constant interruptions.
The latest Blue Drop Progress Report confirmed that the Free State has the second-highest proportion of high- and critical-risk water systems in the country.
Nearly half of the province’s water treatment works fail to submit basic flow-monitoring data, indicating a breakdown in operational management.
“Technical skills and maintenance capacity are inadequate, and there is virtually no implementation of Water Safety Plans,” he said.
The lack of water directly undermines sanitation, compounding the risk of disease outbreaks and creating a major public health emergency.
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The steel and see will not rest before all towns and neighbourhood suburbs are equal to squatter camps, because then will all look alike and government will not have to supply basic services. The tax money can then be devised between all comrades.