The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, was clear about this. He stated the importance of having water in every tap in the country, and that it should be treated as a priority.

Mchunu, together with Deputy Minister Mahlobo and the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Free State, Mxolisi Dukwana, were briefed about the water and sanitation issues in the Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) Local Municipality. The local municipality has recently been under scrutiny over service delivery issues.

Vandalism, theft, and ageing infrastructure were among the issues that were raised at the municipality. In a statement issued by the Water and Sanitation Department, the MAP debt, amounting to half a billion rand, and sewage spillages were also the centre of attention in the municipality.

Meanwhile, the MAP Local Municipal Manager, Futhuli Mothamaha, said the municipality has begun a programme of installing pre-paid meters in order to deal with the issues of non-collection of revenue.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi