The municipal spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, says the water board has instilled a 30% water restriction - which has affected water supply in areas such as Pellissier, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. This follows a letter sent to the metro by Bloem Water, issued on 23 November, warning the metro that due to non-payment water to some areas will be reduced. 

A letter addressed to the Municipal Manager, Tankiso Mea, indicated that the management of the water board has on several occasions tried to engage with the Metro's leadership to no avail. 

Meanwhile, Khedama says the City is currently engaging with Bloem Water so that both entities come to an amicable solution and ensure the restoration of water.

Affected areas included Section J, F, D and M in Botshabelo. Those affected in Thaba Nchu includes Zone 2, 3 and 4, Unit 1, Selosesha and Mokoena.

And in Bloemfontein, those affected by the 30% reduction of water includes places such as Lourierpark, Pellissier, Uitsig, Universitas Ridge, Langenhoven Park (areas close to Universitas Ridge) and Bainsvlei. Khedama adds that the residents will be updated regularly.

OFM News previously reported that the Bloem Water board had cautioned of its possible collapse due to non-payment by some municipalities. Bloem Water's Caesarine Mogorosi said at the time that the current financial status at the institution is unsustainable. She added that this is due to the non-payment of accounts by municipalities which owes millions of rands.

In June the institution, which supplies thousands of residents with water, if not millions, announced that three municipalities, which include the Mangaung, Mantsopa, and Kopanong municipalities, have not been keeping up with their accounts. Mogorosi said these three municipalities owe the water institution a combined amount of more than R1 billion, with the embattled Mangaung’s account alone amounting to almost a billion.

OFM News