According to Sedibeng Water, the North West municipalities that it services, collectively owe the water board nearly R1 billion presently. Sedibeng Water spokesperson, Alfred Theys, says the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality under which the Mahikeng, Distobotla and Ratlou Local Municipalities falls isn’t honouring its payment agreement, adding to the existing financial strain on the distressed water board. OFM News’ Olebogeng Motse reports that despite the progress seemingly made by Mahikeng in paying its debt to Sedibeng, residents still complain over the quality of the water running out of their taps, indicating that something else is amiss there.

Throughout the North West capital, water tankers can be seen in the backyards not just of the rural communities but also in affluent suburbs like Leopard Park, a sure sign that clean and adequate water supply here is indeed a problem. Engagements with residents reveal that some of the villages like Montshioa Stadt have been without water for days. 

On 25 October, North West Premier Bushy Maape, alongside Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, David Mahlobo revealed that there are some infrastructure-related issues at the Mmabatho Water Treatment Plant that are to blame for the recent water constraints in the area. It was decided that a technical task team consisting of local, provincial and national officials would be established to deal with the long-standing challenges at the water plant and in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District in general.

In May 2021, the aforementioned local municipalities and their district office faced bulk water interruptions at the hands of Sedibeng owing to their debt. The business community in Ngaka Modiri Molema acquired the legal assistance of Kriek, Wassenaar and Venter known as KWV to bar the water board from cutting water supply. This bears a striking resemblance to the events of the last two weeks when Matjhabeng and Nala Local Municipalities in the Free State found themselves in the throes of a water crisis as Sedibeng cut off water supply owing to their mounting debt, which surpasses that of the North West municipalities significantly. 

Matjhabeng, which includes Welkom, Odendaalsrus, Virginia and Ventersburg, owe the water board R4,4 billion alone. The situation was averted following numerous engagements between Sedibeng and the representatives of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) as well as Water and Sanitation at provincial and national level. Lobby group Afriforum also launched a court bid to have the water board interdicted from shutting down supply.

In the meantime, Sedibeng’s employees remain up in arms over the non-payment of their 5,5% salary increments, following the water board’s revelations that it cannot afford the increments, owing to its debt.


OFM News