Central SA
No clear indication of water restoration in Welkom─── ZENANDE MPAME 09:20 Sun, 27 Jul 2025
Residents of Matjhabeng Municipality have been without water for the past five days due to Vaal Central Water winter maintenance.
The maintenance included the servicing of breakers and testing of protection relays at Balkfontein, the cleaning of the collection channel, maintenance of transformers at De Erf, and pipeline isolation and scouring, aimed at clearing blockages and improving overall water flow.
The maintenance and repairs commenced on Tuesday (22/7) for 36 hours. The municipality sent a notice informing the public that during line-filling, the team discovered a scour valve on the pipeline was partially closed.
Due to high water pressure in the line, gaining access to the valve proved difficult. To manage the water levels, an additional pump was sourced from Harmony Mine.
Upon further inspection, it was found the valve was stuck in a semi-closed position. To avoid delays, the team has collected a replacement valve from Balkfontein, which will be installed in series with the existing valve.
“This will help reduce turnaround time, even though the pipeline is still partially full. Please note that the second pipeline continues to supply 60 megalitres per day (ML/d) since midnight on Wednesday (23/7).”
On Saturday (26/7), the municipality notified the residents of a water tanker distribution schedule that was supposed to be dispatched to Wards 12,13,14,15,17, and 25. At Goldfields Mall, Lebogang School, Odendaalsrus Police Station, Ventersburg, and at the Welkom Clinic.
“Matjhabeng has been without water since Tuesday last week, a notice was given, and it indicated a 36-hour delay,” said Matjhabeng municipality VF Plus councillor Manie Pretorius.
“But the 36hours wasn’t clarified whether it will be 36 consecutive hours or three working days. It is a week later, and there is still no water in Matjhabeng; the water tankers that were supposed to be deployed are nowhere to be seen.”
Residents of Matjhabeng are furious, and they need water, not excuses. It is time for this ANC-led municipality to be replaced, he said.
“We haven’t had water for about six days now. There have been water tankers around the city, but obviously there is no more water left for the trucks to run,” said Matjhabeng resident Gerhard Moolman to OFM News.
“The water was cut off on the same day they sent the notice. Afterward, we’ve tried numerous times to get communication from the municipality, and it has failed every single time. We just get excuses.”
