Recently the failing water infrastructure at Bloem Water had left residents of Welkom in Matjhabeng without water for days. While violent protests erupted in Ventersburg after community members of Mmamahabane walked to the municipal offices to demand water. Khalipha said a technical team has already been appointed and the municipality has once more requested the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, to intervene like he recently did with the issue of sewage spillage in Matjhabeng.

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“Very soon we will be able to deal with water challenges. There is a short term issue and there is a long term issue, because we need more than half a billion rand to fix the infrastructure of Bloem Water and I do not doubt the work done by Minister Mchunu - he will intervene. On our side there were challenges of leakages. We have invested some money in our infrastructure to deal with leakages, and I do not doubt the work that we are doing. We will be able to deal with these challenges,” concluded Khalipha.

Meanwhile Matjhabeng spokesperson, Tshediso Tlatli, informed OFM News that the municipality dispatched nine water tankers as a contingency plan to assist affected areas. He also requested residents to be patient. He says the ward councillors are also assisting officials tasked with implementing the plan to identify affected communities. 

On Friday morning, the municipality confirmed to have procured two more tankers to increase the supply of water in affected areas. While also stating that a process to install boreholes in 30 wards is at an advanced stage, with two already installed at ward 3 (Phomolong, Hennenman, and ward 10, Riebeeckstad) and four underway in ward 1, 2, 17, and 25.  Both the municipality and Bloem Water committed to contribute R4 million to refurbish the vandalised Saaiplaas Water Treatment Plant in Virginia, which will be used to distribute water to some parts of Thabong and Welkom.

OFM News