Central SA
Hertzogville weeks without water supply after heavy rains─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 12:37 Wed, 07 May 2025
Residents of Hertzogville in the western Free State have been left without water for at least four weeks following recent heavy rains and flooding that severely damaged critical municipal infrastructure.
The crisis began in early April when excessive rainfall led to flooding of the Vaal River.
In April, the Tokologo Municipality issued a notice alerting residents to the severity of the situation, explaining that the flooding had impacted key infrastructure at the town’s main water treatment facility.
“As a direct consequence, municipal water pumps and the Variable Speed Drive (VSD) panel control at our main water treatment facility have sustained damage. This has compromised our ability to maintain normal water supply levels to all communities,” the notice stated.
Tokologo committed to implementing water-shedding measures, with supply rotated on a two-hour interval basis in affected areas. It also promised to deploy water trucks to higher-lying zones where piped access is impossible.
However, for many residents of Hertzogville, this is not a new problem. A source speaking on condition of anonymity said water issues in the area are not foreign as the community has struggled for years with an inconsistent water supply despite the existence of a water pipeline from Christiana, built in 2010 at a reported cost of R163 million.
That pipeline is frequently non-operational, leaving residents without a stable water source. Chronic leaks and ageing infrastructure only worsen the situation.
The source further stated that the municipality has often been deploying water trucks during work hours, making it difficult for residents to get even a drop of water.
On Tuesday (6/5), DA Cllr Hismajesty Maqhubu conducted an oversight visit to the abstraction point, where he discovered the core issue: outdated software meant to automate water pumping from Christiana to the raw water dam in Hertzogville.
“The municipality has managed to appoint a contractor who is on-site currently and working on fixing the problem. Once the software has been updated and the engines reboot, water will be pumped.
“During this oversight, we were also informed of the water leaks on the pipeline, and the spares to be used for that work are also available,” said Maqhubu.
He added once repairs are complete and pumping resumes, it will take time for the raw water dam – currently at its lowest level – to refill and enable consistent supply to the town of Hertzogville and the neighbouring settlement of Malebogo.
