The Acting Chief Executive, Toto Molobye, confirmed the decision was approved by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu. 

The entity provides water to the Free State, North West, and the Northern Cape municipalities. According to the memorandum released by the water board, staff, assets, and liabilities in the Free State and Northern Cape will be transferred to Bloem Water. The staff, assets and liabilities in the North West will be transferred to Magalies Water.

“The disestablishment of an entity such as Sedibeng Water is not going to happen overnight. This must be communicated to the relevant stakeholders,” explained Molobye.

The memorandum also states the Ministry will in due course gazette the extension of the areas of operation of Bloem Water and Magalies Water.

According to the South African Government website, it is understood that Mchunu held a meeting with the water board on 24 January and in the meeting, the acting chairperson of the board, Sphetho Siyengo, explained the biggest challenge they are facing as an entity is the recovery of money owed to them by municipalities. Siyengo says it is difficult to do their jobs when municipalities won’t do their part.

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