The residents of Kampersrus, together with the Hoedspruit Farm Watch and the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), have proven that community cooperation is an effective response to municipal service delivery collapse.
Where the Mopani District Municipality has failed for years, the community stepped in and completed a critical pipeline project that will from now on sustainably supply water to approximately 120 households in Kampersrus.
The Kampersrus water treatment plant was constructed in 2008, but after nearly two decades, it is still not fully operational. A short-lived attempt to get it up and running in 2025 failed when the main reservoir began leaking.
Seeing as the Municipality did not budget for repairing the reservoir or the necessary pipeline connection, the project came to a standstill.
On initiative of the Freedom Front Plus, and following an agreement with the Mayor of Mopani, Mr Pule Shai, and satellite manager Mr Master Mashele, the community provided the materials while the Municipality undertook to provide technical support.
On 17 April 2026, a new 250-metre pipeline was successfully installed and connected directly to the treatment works.
This line bypasses the leaking reservoir and links the plant to the existing water network. Mopani has undertaken to maintain the new pipeline going forward.
This project is a prime example of what can be achieved when communities, farm watches and the right political party work together.
The only remaining challenge is that Eskom still needs to install a larger transformer so that the plant can operate at full capacity. The Freedom Front Plus will keep the pressure on until the upgrade has been completed.
The party thanks the Hoedspruit Farm Watch, the local business community and every person who contributed time, money and effort to make this project a reality.
