PP finds NW municipality at fault over water crisis

Public Protector (PP), Busisiwe Mkhwebane says this municipality has failed to ensure that water service equipment is regularly maintained and that old infrastructure is refurbished, leaving communities in Ramotshere Moiloa, Ratlou, Mahikeng, and Ditsobotla, to suffer. 

Releasing her office’s investigative reports on Tuesday, Mkhwebane highlighted that although the municipality made an attempt to adhere to its constitutional obligations, investigations reveal that most vulnerable groups within its area of jurisdiction did not enjoy access to clean and adequate water. 

Mkhwebane has confirmed that investigations further revealed that most challenges in the municipalities relate to “worn-out infrastructure, dilapidated boreholes, a lack of resources, high costs of water redistribution and poor management of water infrastructure."

ALSO READ: Mkhwebane hits back at attempts to remove her from office

Mkhwebane has further indicated that the municipality failed to prepare a water service development plan from 2012 to date.

“I acknowledge that the municipality is mostly rural and had for many years experienced water supply shortages, leaving communities with no option but to rely on water supplied through water tanks. In most of these areas where water tankers are used, the storage tanks are not lifted above the ground. There are also excessive delays in refilling. The tanks’ water is not purified and tanks are not regularly cleaned. This leaves communities vulnerable to the use of contaminated water”.

To remedy the situation, Mkhwebane has directed the Municipal Manager to ensure that incomplete water projects such as the Zeerust Waste Water Treatment Plant reach completion.

She further stated that the municipality will have to ensure that they settle Eskom’s bill for the boreholes and ensuring that they fix all the boreholes in various areas, amongst other measures.

Mkhwebane’s has further directed the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mothibedi Kegakilwe, to monitor the process of drafting the integrated development plan and ensure that the plan materialise.

She added that Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu must appoint a task team to assist the municipality and monitor the process of drafting such a water service plan.

“The minister must further the performance of the municipality and intervene where there is a gross failure of delivery, non-compliance.”

Mkhwebane’s report on the water crisis faced in the North West came just days after residents in Qwaqwa were up in arms over a lack of water supply by the cash-strapped Maluti-A-Phofung in the Free State.

The sporadic protests in Qwaqwa saw the town coming to a complete standstill with schools and businesses shut down. The protests were allegedly sparked by the tragic death of an eight-year-old girl, Mosa Mbele, who drowned while fetching water in a river.

Sisulu has meanwhile acknowledged that it has taken too long to address the water crisis faced in Qwaqwa and pledged R220 million and 5 000 water tankers to address the situation.