Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Jose Coetzee and Sesotho by Karabo Khakhau MP.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Setsoto Local Municipality is concerned by the recent decline in water quality from the local water works in Clocolan, posing a serious health risk to residents. This alarming issue has heightened concerns about the safety and reliability of the water being supplied to the community.
The DA has received a video revealing that the water supplied by the Setsoto water works in Clocolan appears to be failing to meet the required safety standards. In the footage, a water purifying system with newly installed filters becomes clogged with filth within just two days, rendering the filter system ineffective. Additionally, it has been confirmed that the water emits a fish-like odour, further indicating contamination. Please see the videos here, here and here.
We demand immediate action to test the water quality at the final point of distribution to ascertain its safety and any potential health risks. We also urge the municipality to conduct continuous testing to evaluate the extent of possible contamination and to keep the community regularly informed of these findings. Furthermore, we insist on strict consequence management for officials who have neglected their duties, leading to potential legal action against the municipality.
The DA will persist in monitoring the situation, demanding a thorough investigation into this gross negligence, and ensuring swift corrective measures are taken to protect the health and well-being of the Clocolan community.