In the notice, dated March 11, the District Municipality encourages residents to make use of bottled water for consumption if possible, or boil tap water before drinking it. The unit maintains in the alert that the Kopanong Local Municipality, which includes the two towns, is on top of the situation and currently in the process of rectifying the water quality, making the alert nothing more than a precaution. OFM News contacted the spokesperson of Kopanong Local Municipality, Solomzi Phama, for comment. He redirected all relevant enquiries to the Xhariep District Municipality, whose response unveiled the confusion.

 The Xhariep District redirected enquiries back to Kopanong’s acting Municipal Manager, Nkululeko Kelepu, not without clarifying that Bloem Water is in fact the area’s service provider and the water board on the other hand denies any water quality issues at Kopanong. The District municipality adds that it seems the District Environmental Health Practitioners got samples from Jojo Tanks at the health facilities in the towns, and Instead of reporting to Kopanong they published the warning. At the time of the broadcast, Kelepu was yet to comment to OFM News’ enquiries and provide clarity on the matter.

This is not the first time that the mining town of Jagersfontein and Fauresmith have come under public scrutiny over water supply issues. Kopanong Local Municipality’s mounting debt to Bloem Water resulted in water restrictions that left some areas without water at all for months on end. With Jagersfontein having had borne the brunt of this situation, the community took to the streets in early 2018, demanding that something be done to improve the provision of water in the area. Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela and other provincial officials visited the two areas in June 2018. It is during this visit that she announced the provincial government would help settle a portion of Kopanong’s water bill, to ensure that restrictions are lifted, just so that communities would have access to water.

OFM News