Central SA
Mangaung mayor outlines plans to resolve Bloemfontein water crisis─── REFILWE BEKANE 08:11 Thu, 26 Feb 2026
“Quite obviously, when there are challenges, communities will feel at some point abandoned until you reach out to them and give them the map of the situation that you are in.”
With these words, Mangaung mayor Gregory Nthathisi addressed the media at the Bram Fischer building on Wednesday (25/2) to outline how the municipality will fix the water shortage in Bloemfontein.
The plan involves refurbishing and increasing the capacity of existing infrastructure that was not built for the current population size. To fund these upgrades, it would prioritise collecting R18bn in outstanding debt.
““Despite the fact that there is rain, our Cashman point can no longer sustain the needs of the metro,” he said.
This includes R7.5bn from residents and R2.5bn to R3bn from businesses. The city would disconnect services for those who do not pay to ensure there is money for repairs and service delivery.
National government assistance remains a part of the solution. The metro has submitted a business plan to national departments to secure funding for a new water pipeline.
Vaal Central Water
This project, which the mayor said has to be built by the department of water and sanitation together with Vaal Central Water, represents a step toward long-term stability.
Additionally, the city is working with institutions of higher learning to study the use of underground water as a secondary source, while staff members remain available to help residents with faulty water meters and refund money if machines did not take their tokens.
The plan involves refurbishing and increasing the capacity of existing infrastructure. Photo: Freepik
Money is being redirected from other budgets to fix urgent sewer spillages and water leaks. While the maintenance budget is only 2%, the metro is using internal funds to address these hazards immediately.
To ensure accountability, the metro is sending cases of financial mismanagement to the municipal public accounts committee. Officials who did not spend resources correctly will face the financial disciplinary board, as the administration seeks to protect the interests of the community.
“The capacity that must be in the institution is that our officials must be at par with accountability. With regard to shifting money when that challenge comes,” said Nthathisi.
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