Water started returning to taps in Mantsopa on Wednesday (11/2) after the municipality resumed pumping. It’s still waiting for the department of labour to inspect whether the repairs were done correctly.

On Monday, the municipality said “the water ‘tankering’ in greater Ladybrand had been temporarily suspended for safety reasons”, due to heavy downpours.

The roads leading to Genoa water treatment works were wet and slippery after heavy rain. As a result, the roads were inaccessible for trucks carrying tankers to fetch water.

“We tried to get the inspector back to verify work at Genoa, but unfortunately, he didn’t come,” said municipal manager Matiro Mogopodi. “The municipality will continue ‘tankering’ water until the labour inspector gives us a green light to switch on the pump station.

“On Wednesday, a power outage caused an interruption to the water supply, but later on, the reported electrical fault was repaired, and the pumping of water to the reservoirs resumed shortly.”

On Thursday, 18 December, labour inspectors conducted a health and safety inspection under Section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993.

The municipality was prohibited from continuing with the water treatment works because the employees were at risk of fire and electrocution, as the electrical installation at the plant was not connected, and chlorine was not properly stored.

Labour inspectors revisited the Hobhouse water treatment plant on Friday (6/2) and decided to close it, citing compromised employee safety.

“Residents are forewarned the water might be brownish in colour, hence they should not get alarmed and are hereby advised to at least allow the water to run for a few minutes before use,” said the municipality in a statement.

“In the areas where the water will not clear, the residents are advised to immediately lodge a complaint at the municipality’s hotline so lines can be flushed out.”

Some residents complained on social media that “water coming from my tap is still brow,” said Erica Botha Venter on Facebook. “You asked us to let you know if you must flush the pipes, and I have been asking for 24 hours with no action.”

Meanwhile, the DA said it will formally report the municipality to the Free State Treasury and demand full accountability for the ongoing water crisis in Hobhouse and Dipelaneng. 

The party called on the municipality to provide consistent and adequately resourced water tankering services to affected households until the plant is fully operational. “The municipality cannot continue to violate residents’ rights orignore proper financial and administrative accountability,” said DA Cllr Tim Mpakathe. 

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OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg