This is according to Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. Responding to the EFF over the dire water situation faced by communities in this municipality and whether her department will intervene, Sisulu says municipalities as Water Service Authorities are responsible for the distribution of water and supply to sanitation services. She says the local municipality should, in this case, ensure that any assistance required by the community is rendered and should approach the Magalies Water Board, should they have difficulties. Sisulu says the Madibeng Local Municipality has so far procured and installed the three water tanks and fills them with water on a regular basis to ensure access to adequate water supply.

Concerns over water supply by this municipality comes just weeks after members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) embarked on a week-long visit to the province where they engaged distressed municipalities over their financial position and lack of services to residents. It was during these engagements where it was highlighted that the financial health of North West municipalities remains a great concern, as no single municipality was able to obtain a clean audit for the 2018/19 financial year. It was sharply raised that out of 22 municipalities, 13 are under administration due to their financial rut and they continue to bear the brunt of their investment in the now liquidated VBS Mutual Bank.

Municipalities in the province, including the Madibeng Local Municipality, have for years drawn controversy over their VBS Mutual Bank Investment, with the Auditor-General (AG) highlighting that a loss of R556.2 million continues to cripple them.

Sisulu, in a written reply meanwhile highlights the Water Services Act in section 3 outlines the right of access to basic water supply and sanitation which mandates that “everyone has a right of access to basic water supply and basic sanitation” and places the responsibility on Water Services Authorities to ensure that they develop a Water Services Development Plan (WSDP) to ensure the realisation of this right”.

OFM News