They reported their concerns of water contamination while the country is battling a water crisis. This follows several pleas to MAP Water in the Maluti-A-Phofung (MAP) municipality to install proper infrastructure.

MAP Water spokesperson, Kelopiloe Mongake, told OFM News that there are no funds to execute plans. She further stated that the pump station is not working, and Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu knows their challenges, which is why they allegedly had no other choice but to dump the sewage into the Wilge River.

“We are aware of everything. That is why there is a ministerial intervention which is here to solve all our problems. So what’s happening now will be resolved through that. They have appointed Bloem Water, we are waiting for the service level agreement (SLA) between Bloem Water and the municipality itself, so that they can start working and fixing all the problems that we have.”

ALSO READ: Delayed water, sanitation projects resuscitated in Free State

OFM News previously reported that the Department of Water and Sanitation’s plans to resuscitate delayed projects in the Free State are underway.

Sewage dumped into the Wilge River will eventually end up in and contribute to the pollution of the Vaal Dam, one of the major water sources of Gauteng.

OFM News has sent an inquiry to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) regional head in the Free State, Tseliso Ntili, but has not received a response by the time of publication. 

OFM News/Mpho Mohapi