It is unacceptable that many communities in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality have been without water for more than ten days following Rand Water’s planned maintenance work, which was specifically intended to improve the long-term reliability of the region’s water supply.
This predicament focuses the spotlight on the Municipality’s ageing infrastructure, inadequate emergency planning and poor reservoir management.
Although Rand Water warned that the repair process would depend on the Municipality’s own distribution networks and pump stations, the taps of residents of Secunda, Bethal, Trichardt, Evander and surrounding areas are still running dry.
They are forced to rely on water tankers, private donations and limited emergency points.
Claims of closed-off water valves and inconsistent repair patterns raise further questions about the management of the system.
Bethal’s situation is particularly concerning: Residents have been plagued by recurring water shortages for the past nine months. A serious cause for concern is that the Municipality may be deliberately restricting supply to save costs, rather than fixing infrastructure problems. This places an unfair burden on residents, who are paying for a service they are not receiving.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) urgently calls on the Executive Mayor, the municipal administration and the relevant authorities to:
• Publish daily, transparent feedback on reservoir levels, pumping capacity and times when supply is expected to be restored.
• Release a detailed recovery plan with specific timelines per area.
• Ensure all emergency water points and boreholes are accessible 24 hours a day.
• Deploy more water tankers and ensure fair distribution.
• Commission an independent technical assessment of the water network.
• Urgently invest in upgrading ageing infrastructure.
If the Municipality fails to stabilise the situation, the provincial government has to consider intervening in terms of the Constitution to protect residents’ right to water.
Residents deserve transparency, accountability and decisive leadership – not uncertainty and empty promises.
Water is a basic human right, and the residents of Govan Mbeki deserve better.
On 4 November, residents have the opportunity to oust the incompetent ANC and vote for the Freedom Front Plus, which prioritises their interests.
