Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Alison Oates and Sesotho by Cllr Moshe Lefuma.
Residents of the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality (MaP) face an imminent humanitarian crisis due to the absence of purified water. Shockingly, all four water purification plants operated by the MaP Water municipal entity are non-operational, leaving the community in dire need.
The municipality’s perpetual water shortages, exacerbated by loadshedding, have worsened the severity of this crisis, leaving the water system with scant reserves to alleviate the situation.
Compounding the issue, MaP Water’s bank account has been seized by SARS due to outstanding tax payments. Despite this, the entity failed to take proactive measures such as opening multiple bank accounts, as instructed by the municipality, exacerbating governance and logistical challenges in compensating approximately 350 staff.
Despite the Council’s recent decision to disband the separate entity, implementation remains stalled, highlighting a disconnect between resolutions and actions. MaP Water is incapable of managing its affairs and fostering collaboration with the parent municipality. The DA insists on expediting necessary legal and accounting procedures to benefit residents, staff, and suppliers, pledging relentless pursuit until resolution is achieved.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has swiftly engaged with the Provincial CoGTA, urging immediate intervention to address this pressing matter.
We will actively push for the prompt implementation of legal and accounting measures to resolve the crisis, ensuring the welfare of residents, staff, and suppliers. Failure to address this water purification crisis will lead to severe hardships for MaP and QwaQwa residents, endangering public health and exacerbating existing challenges within the community.