The committee raised serious concerns about the commitment of both the political and administrative leadership of the Welkom-based municipality to honour any payment arrangement with the Vaal Central Water Board. During an engagement with the department of water and sanitation, Magalies Water and the Vaal Central Water Board to assess its 2024/25 annual performance, it emerged Matjhabeng owes just under R9bn. The ailing municipality also reportedly owe R14bn to Eskom.

Despite assurances given during the committee’s oversight visit in January, as well as confirmation from the department of water and sanitation (DWS) that the municipality is cooperating, there is still no tangible proof that the municipality is either willing or capable of honouring any payment agreement, said committee chairperson Leon Basson.

“This is unacceptable and represents the worst recalcitrant behaviour that not only affects the viability of the water board but the livelihoods and possible economic growth within the municipality.”

The committee resolved the municipality must be invited to appear before it to account for the unfulfilled undertaking. While municipalities operate under a different sphere of government, Basson stressed municipal dysfunction carries far-reaching socio-economic consequences and poses a direct threat to the sustainability of water boards and access to water throughout the Free State.

The committee requested a firm undertaking from DWS it won’t hand over the recently refurbished wastewater treatment works – upgraded following a ministerial intervention – without adequate safeguards.

“The committee expressed concern that transferring the refurbished plants back to the municipality without adequate safeguards could render the intervention meaningless, particularly if the underlying governance and operational dysfunction within the Matjhabeng local municipality remains unresolved,” Basson said.

Meanwhile, Matjhabeng mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha said during a recent media briefing at the municipality’s headquarters that major financial commitments have been secured to address ageing infrastructure challenges.

Years of neglect have left the municipality struggling with a crumbling sewerage system, non-operational water treatment plants, and persistent watershedding, issues that have severely threatened the health and well-being of residents. Planned infrastructure upgrades include repairs to pump stations, sewage treatment facilities, and the replacement of outdated pipelines.

“Like Constantia Road: we are informed by the contractor that by the end of March, the work will be done. You must remember we are fixing pump stations, we are fixing sewage treatment plants, and we are also upgrading lines. It means we are now removing the old system and putting (in a) new system.

“We are getting the support from the national government of R4.4bn; no municipality in this province has that kind of support from the national government.”

The national government had committed approximately R2.6bn specifically for the replacement of old pipes. Khalipha added the large-scale infrastructure project began in 2022 and is expected to be completed by 2028.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm