These pictures and videos depict what seems to be brownish sludge coming out of the taps of residents. It’s not yet clear how long have the residents been faced with the water issues in that area.

Water issues have become synonymous within a lot of residences or areas in the Free State. The municipality says it is aware of the allegations and a statement addressing the issues will soon be released.

OFM News previously reported that stranded residents of Tumahole in the Parys-based Ngwathe Local Municipality were at some stage forced to fetch water from sewage manholes.

A similar situation also besieged residents of the troubled Theunissen-based Masilonyana Local Municipality where residents had spent days without drinking water and were ultimately forced to fetch water from small water streams and pipes.

Free State residents 'forced to fetch water from manholes'

ALSO READ: Free State residents 'forced to fetch water from manholes'

The municipality told OFM News that water tankers have been sent to the areas affected by water shedding.

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

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

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

The meeting between Dukwana, mayors, and accounting officers happened whilst residents from various municipalities – including the Bloemfontein-based Mangaung Metro, Welkom-based Matjhabeng, and Theunissen-based Masilonyana Local Municipalities – continue to be at the receiving end of water issues.

Some of these municipalities have been forced to implement planned water shedding whilst water leaks or burst pipes also played a major role. Some of these municipalities, including the Mangaung Metro, lose a high percentage of water due to leaks, the Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, said earlier. Mchunu also cited these water leaks are often caused by a lack of maintenance.

Dukwana told officials in Bloemfontein there's a need to ensure that available water is reserved for the benefit of the people, especially with water being a scarce resource.

"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."

OFM News: Lucky Nkuyane/Kekeletso Mosebetsi