Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Theo Gerber.
The DA wrote to the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality Speaker, Cllr Kgalalelokgali Sereko, calling for an urgent Special Council meeting to deliberate on solutions to the persistent water crisis in the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality. See letter here.
Residents have suffered regular and extended water supply outages since 2016 when the district municipality adopted a policy to switch the pumps supplying water to Lekwa-Teemane off every night from 21:00 to 03:00 to allow the bulk water supplier, previously Sedibeng Water and now Magalies Water, to replenish reservoirs for water supply the next day.
During the hot summer months, there is naturally an increase in demand for water, but because of the policy to switch off the water pumps, the reservoirs are quickly depleted, extending the period of water outages by five to six hours every day.
It is evident that the bulk water reticulation system is unable to meet demand and in urgent need of an upgrade. Regular pipe bursts and pump malfunctions further extend water outages.
In addition, the district municipality failed to service its bulk water account, it owes a total of R450 million to Magalies Water. As a result, the water board has also failed to pay its electricity account of more than R100 million with the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality.
The stand-off between the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality and Magalies Water places an enormous strain on Lekwa-Teemane’s finances, which itself owes Eskom more than R200 million in unpaid bulk electricity debt.
At the Special Council meeting the DA will propose that the district municipality enter into a payment plan with Magalies Water and to upgrade the water purification plant to ensure the reliable supply of water to all residents.
The DA also wrote the Lekwa-Teemane Municipal Manager, Beverly Gunqisa, requesting her to arrange a meeting with Magalies Water to agree on a payment plan for the water board’s electricity account, so that the municipality can be better placed to service its Eskom’s account. See letter here.
Ultimately, the real reason people do not have water is because the ANC in government just cannot do its job. The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Magalies Water, and the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality are all governed and managed by the ANC and yet they play these games of tit-for-tat which are denying residents access to water and putting all other basic service delivery at risk.
The DA in Lekwa-Teemane will continue to apply pressure and pursue all mechanisms available to us toward restoring the reliable supply of water to residents.