The ANC caucus whip in the municipality, Mandlenkosi Dlamini, says the municipality has failed with distinction to stabilise essential services such as the provision of clean water, as community members are at high risk because many of them depend on water from the rivers and Jojo tanks which are not even monitored and checked on a regular basis.  

He says that some areas in the ailing municipality haven't had water coming from taps for over six months, residents have continuously been complaining but their complaints seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

Dlamini has since requested the provincial and national governments to urgently respond to the issue of water by deploying a multidisciplinary team to assess the situation and start working on a contingency plan to curb the risks of deadly cholera outbreaks in the areas affected by water challenges. 

He said this after claiming that the recent coalition in the municipality hasn’t helped the situation. Dlamini further revealed that the Department of Water and Sanitation paid an amount of R2 billion to deal with the water crisis in the troubled municipality, however, the municipality allegedly spent a mere 20% of that amount.  

"We shall not rest until we get an assurance from the department that they will make an intensive intervention in this municipality. It is clear we cannot trust MAP-16 with our lives, the water we drink is very essential to us."    

ALSO READ: We have solution for Maluti-a-Phofung's water crisis, says DA

The DA in the municipality recently stated that it has taken steps to find a solution for the water problems of residents.

ALSO READ: Free State premier meets with municipalities over water issues

Premier Mxolisi Dukwana met with mayors, chief executive officers, and technical managers two months ago to deliberate on water leaks and other causes of water losses.

OFM News has sent an inquiry to the Maluti-A-Phofung municipality.

Municipal communication officer, Tebogo Radebe, has since declined allegations that there have been areas without water for six months. He says places without water last week are Kestell, Bluegumbotch, Tlholong and Snakepark, due to a burst pipe on the Sterkfontein line. The pipe was fixed and they started getting water on Tuesday.

“The areas that also struggled with water recently are Maspaleng and Hanchabeng, they had a bust pipe two weeks ago and it was repaired. The problem now is a cable that has a low supply of electricity. This cable is from the transformer to the plant and the municipality is busy working on it. We will be sending trucks for the areas affected by load-shedding," he said.

OFM News