Yesterday I visited the town of Vrede together with Phumelela Councillor Doreen Wessels, to assess the water situation after the town officially ran out of all water a month ago.
It became apparent during our oversight visits to various water treatment plants, boreholes and dams, that the current crisis could have been prevented had the ANC-led Phumelela Local Municipality, responsibly and efficiently managed the water situation.
Since a severe drought in 2014 brought about a water crisis in the town, nothing has been done to adequately expand and maintain the towns water supply.
As things stand, Vrede with a population of 23 000, is only able, through various government disaster interventions, to supply 50% of the required volumes of water.
Despite the clear evidence of a lack of sustainable water resources in the town, large RDP housing developments have continued. Residents of these houses will for the foreseeable future rely on communal JoJo tanks, with there being no hope of piped water and sewage being delivered anytime soon.
Premier Sisi Ntombela visited the town yesterday and promised additional water tankers, JoJo tanks and the grading of a farm road, making it possible for water tankers to collect water from a farm dam 28km away.
Currently the six existing tankers must collect water from Warden 70km away, or Memel 75km away.
The Democratic Alliance will push for a ‘war on leaks’ in Vrede. Government reports indicate that 50% of purified water in the province is lost through leaking pipes, taps and toilets. Cutting out on these leaks could double the amount of clean water available for households.
Secondly, the DA will fight for planning to begin immediately for a new dam to be built in the area which could supply Vrede and Memel.
Construction on this dam must begin as soon as is humanly possible, as droughts will become more frequent in future. Government departments must intervene with the necessary expertise and managed grant funding to ensure that this community receives a sustainable supply of potable water.
To enjoy a regular supply of clean water, a competent, honest and committed government is a pre-requisite, and without which clean water is a rare luxury.
The DA will continue to monitor the water situation in Free State towns, many of which are suffering from disastrous water crises. We will continue to hold the executive accountable through questions and engagements in the Portfolio Committees.