Central SA
Maluti-a-Phofung residents suffer continued water outages─── ZENANDE MPAME 13:04 Mon, 27 Jan 2025
Residents in some eastern Free State towns continue to suffer due to water disruptions caused by electricity faults at Maluti-a-Phofung’s water entity.
Residents of Harrismith have been left without water because of major leaks at the Wilge Treatment Plant on Monday (27/1). In Qwaqwa, water-shedding has been implemented by MaP Water. Areas receive water for four days, and for the next four days, there is no water.
On Thursday (23/1), staff at the entity hadn’t been paid and downed tools. The municipality intervened and paid the workers, and they resumed their duties on Monday morning.
“The water situation in Maluti-a-Phofung, in general, is very bad,” said Thabo Mofutsanyana District DA Cllr Leona Kleynhans. “There is no lack of water as there is enough water in the municipality, but the MaP Water entity is struggling to get water to people in a regular manner.”
Water-shedding implemented in Qwaqwa is “hugely frustrating” for the residents and “devastating” for schools that don’t have a regular water supply.
A decision was taken by the council to have the MaP Water entity disestablished. The entire function will be rendered by the municipality itself, but that has not yet happened, she said.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Saki Mokoena had been asked to intervene by forcing the municipal council to implement its resolution, including the resolution taken to dissolve the MaP Water entity, incorporate it into the municipality, and have Vaal Water assume responsibility as the bulk water supplier.
A letter was distributed by the municipal manager explaining the reasons why employees did not receive their salaries.
In November, the SA Human Rights Commission exposed failures of governance and service delivery in the Free State.
The commission requested that operations and maintenance of infrastructure be prioritised within three months, to enhance revenue collection, tackle vandalism of infrastructure, and that bucket toilets be eradicated, among others.
The report highlighted that residents’ rights under Section 27(1) (b) of the Constitution and Regulations 3 and 4 of the regulations relating to compulsory national standards and measures to conserve water are violated by the ongoing lack of access to water.
