Municipal spokesperson Jeanette Tshite said the shutdown was necessary to enable repair teams to complete the work safely and restore the system. Residents were advised to collect and store enough water in advance for domestic use during the interruption. 

Water restoration will begin once repairs have been completed. Tshite apologised on behalf of the municipality for the inconvenience caused by the latest disruption. 

Water running down the streets of Ikakgeng Extension 6. Photo supplied

The interruption adds to a growing list of water supply problems in the ANC-led municipality, including pump failures, emergency maintenance, and recurring infrastructure breakdowns that have repeatedly affected service delivery.

Frustration among residents has also fuelled calls for the former Tlokwe and Ventersdorp municipalities, which were merged to form JB Marks, to be separated again. 

Community dissatisfaction has on several occasions spilled onto the streets in violent protests, with residents expressing anger over persistent water outages and what they describe as poor municipal services.

In his state of the city address earlier this year, mayor Gaba Thithiba Ka Qhele acknowledged the municipality’s infrastructure challenges and said the administration intended to maximise available government grants to improve critical services.

He said the municipality wanted to use all available funding fully while turning JB Marks into a construction site focused on infrastructure development and service delivery.

The municipal budget prioritises grants such as the municipal infrastructure grant, water services infrastructure grant, neighbourhood development partnership grant, and integrated national electrification programme.

Projects funded through the R82.6m municipal infrastructure grant include a R2m community hall in Promosa, R14.4m for Dock Street in Ventersdorp, R20m for sports facilities, and R11.2m for desludging and upgrading the Sledge Lagoon.

Other allocations include R1.7m for an LED hub centre, R1m for sewer reticulation in Ikageng Extension 6, R2m for the Mohadin and Poortjie Dam bulk sewer system, and R6.4m for specialised vehicles.

The budget also provides R2.6m for sewer reticulation and top structures, R1.8 million for water reticulation in Ikageng Extension 6, R5.6m for Greenfields water reticulation, and R4.1m for project management unit costs. Despite the planned investments, residents continue to experience recurring water interruptions, with pump maintenance and ageing infrastructure affecting communities across the municipality.

In March, the FF Plus also raised concerns about faulty street lights, faded road markings, damaged traffic lights along Mooi River routes, overgrown vegetation, and potholes that were difficult for motorists to see.

AfriForum district coordinator Alta Pretorius warned JB Marks could face serious legal and financial consequences if it failed to act. Unsafe roads and neglected traffic infrastructure could expose the municipality to civil claim sand delictual liability.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh

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