Attached are soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Don van Zyl, and in Setswana by Ratang Molao, DA Ward 18 Candidate for Moretele.
- The DA is escalating Maquassi Hills’ water crisis and demanding a concrete recovery plan and accountability from Magalies Water.
- Failing infrastructure, poor maintenance and inadequate communication are leaving residents without water week after week.
- Reliable water supply is essential to growing local businesses, attracting investment and creating jobs, as outlined in the DA’s Manifesto.
The DA will formally escalate the ongoing water crisis by submitting a letter to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) through the DA’s North West COGTA spokesperson, CJ Steyl. The matter will also be escalated to the National Department of Water and Sanitation by DA Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, Leon Basson. The DA will demand written answers, a concrete recovery plan and accountability to restore a reliable water supply to the residents of Maquassi Hills.
Residents of Leeudoringstad, Wolmaransstad, Makwassie and surrounding areas are being left without water week after week. Last night’s power outage in Leeudoringstad caused the pumps to trip, but the necessary steps were not taken timeously to get them operational again. As a result, the entire Maquassi Hills area woke up without water once again this morning.
This is not an isolated incident. It has become the norm.
Residents are not receiving timely notifications about water interruptions, while reservoir levels are either communicated inaccurately or not communicated at all. Faulty telemetry systems provide incorrect readings, and critical pumping operations increasingly depend on manual intervention. This delays response times and exacerbates the crisis.
Serious questions also remain about the lack of transparency and whether the relevant role-players have the capacity to independently verify the actual condition of reservoirs, pump stations and water infrastructure.
The question residents are rightfully asking is: What is being hidden?
Water is not a favour granted to residents whenever the water board sees fit. Access to sufficient water is a constitutional right. Residents deserve professional management, proper maintenance and honest communication about when their water supply will be restored.
The DA’s Manifesto emphasises reliable basic service delivery as the foundation for economic growth and job creation. Without a reliable water supply, local businesses cannot grow sustainably, attract new investment or create much-needed jobs. Maquassi Hills cannot realise its economic potential while residents and businesses continue to suffer the consequences of persistent water interruptions.
The DA demands:
- Urgent intervention by the provincial government and the Department of Water and Sanitation.
- An independent investigation into Magalies Water’s management, operations and maintenance of water infrastructure.
- Daily, accurate communication about reservoir levels, water interruptions and expected restoration times.
- A clear recovery plan with firm timelines and accountability to restore a reliable water supply.
While the DA takes these steps to hold Magalies Water and the responsible authorities accountable, the permanent solution lies in a DA-led municipality in Maquassi Hills. A DA government will prioritise proper infrastructure maintenance, transparent communication and faster emergency response times to restore water and electricity supplies as quickly as possible.
Reliable basic services are essential to attracting investment, supporting local businesses and creating jobs. On 4 November, the residents of Maquassi Hills must choose between more empty promises and ongoing service delivery failures, or a DA government that prioritises accountability, reliable services and job creation.
Vote DA for a municipality that works, water that flows and a better future for all!