Central SA
Residents of Free State city queue for water─── TSHEHLA KOTELI 10:35 Sun, 04 Jun 2023
Welkom residents in the Free State, which falls under the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, have been left without water for days now.
In a media statement from the municipality, it is explained that the pump in Balkfontein has tripped. Electricians are working around the clock to attend to the problem. The municipality says most areas in Matjhabeng will not have water on Sunday 4 June 2023.
On Tuesday 30 May, residents were told there would be water interruptions. “Matjhabeng Local Municipality is aware of the recent water interruptions in the locality and is awaiting clarity from Bloem Water. Communication will be issued as soon as it becomes available,” read the statement. Residents have since queued to receive water from a Bloem Water truck.
— Keiks (@Binkz_McLesh) June 3, 2023
In a video posted on social media, residents are in a queue with water containers.
One social media user commented that it is at Oppenheimer Park.
In a letter dated 23 May, from the bulk water supplier, Bloem Water, the Chief Executive, Limakatso Moorosi, explained that the area will be without water due to a pipe leak that needs to be repaired. The letter detailed that Welkom will be without water from 31 May to 2 June. The leak was detected on 22 May at the Balkfontein Water Treatment Works. The letter read “the operations and maintenance team needs to attend to the leak on 31 May and therefore request a total shutdown for the duration of 36 hours to allow for repairs to take place”.
On 29 May, Matutle Kgojane, from the Matjhabeng Local Municipality’s communication team, said Bloem Water was unable to pump enough water to supply the locality. The area is not foreign to water interruptions as previously reported shortages of water purification chemicals have already affected residents in most areas.
The municipality allegedly owes bulk water supplier, Bloem Water, close to R5 billion. The money in question is allegedly for arrears from prior years due to multiple payment failures to the water board. The information was made known to OFM News by the Member of Parliament, George Michalakis, who alleged the money owed has also resulted in deteriorating water infrastructure, as it is unreasonable to expect the water board to fulfill its contractual obligations under these circumstances.
Michalakis said, through his written parliamentary question, he has learned that Bloem Water has a budget shortfall of R377 million to address the water infrastructure maintenance backlog in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, has indicated that Bloem Water has allocated R25,2 million for the maintenance of infrastructure, while it needs R402 million to address the maintenance backlog.
