Pictures doing the rounds on social media show senior citizens carrying buckets and fetching water from manholes around the area.

According to a statement issued by the mayor of Ngwathe municipality, Victoria de Beers-Mthombeni, the municipality is unable to distribute water via water tankers due to "restrictions placed by residents".

"This has made it even more challenging for us to ensure that everyone has access to clean and safe water," she says. 

'Unable to distribute water via tankers'

De Beers-Mthombeni says some challenges faced in providing water are due to damage to infrastructure caused by acts of criminality. 

"This has affected the progress of our project as we now have to replace the damaged materials, which has caused delays.

However, I want to assure you that we are taking proactive steps to improve the situation. We are currently upgrading our water filters and building a new pipeline to ensure that our reservoirs are filled and able to meet the needs of our community."

She says the municipality is fully committed to addressing this issue. "Our project to improve the water supply in our municipality has been underway since 2019". 

"We understand the importance of providing clean and safe water to all residents and will not rest until it is fully resolved."

Recently, Premier Mxolisi Dukwana met some of the most troubled municipalities at the OR Tambo building in Bloemfontein over water issues. 

ALSO READ: Free State premier meets with municipalities over water issues

During the meeting, Premier Dukwana vowed it wouldn’t be business as usual for underperforming municipalities across the province, where water shortages, among other service delivery issues, have left residents fuming. 

ALSO READ: ‘It won’t be business as usual’ – Free State premier

"We will not have our communities marching on the streets just to have water. We will not be a government that subjects our people to inhumane living conditions," Dukwana said.

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