JB Marks Municipality said the urgent maintenance conducted by the Department of Water and Sanitation started on Monday (6/1) and is expected to be completed by Wednesday. 

Municipal spokesperson Jeanette Tshite confirmed water supply disruptions are necessary to allow the repairs to be carried out effectively. She urged residents to collect enough water for their needs during this period, assuring them that the water supply would be restored promptly upon completion of the maintenance.

This is not the first time JB Marks residents have faced water supply interruptions. OFM News previously reported on several instances of planned water pump maintenance, which have frequently sparked frustration among the community.

These disruptions have compounded calls from residents to separate the merged Tlokwe and Ventersdorp Municipalities, which were combined into JB Marks. Many argue that the merger has hindered service delivery, citing financial constraints, allegations of corruption, and administrative inefficiency.

Residents blame the municipality for failing to manage the inherited financial challenges from Ventersdorp, which they claim have made it difficult for JB Marks to deliver basic services effectively.

The frustrations have often boiled over into protests, with residents taking to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the ANC-led municipality. 

These protests have sometimes turned violent, reflecting deep-seated anger over issues such as water shortages, poor infrastructure maintenance, and governance failures.

Opposition parties have also weighed in on the municipality’s challenges. FF Plus Cllr Pieter Steyn previously criticised the closure of municipal offices in Ventersdorp, attributing it to mismanagement and neglect.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh