Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Suzette Steyn and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached pictures here and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will escalate Mafube’s ongoing water crisis to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), while strengthening oversight to hold the municipality accountable for restoring a reliable supply of clean drinking water.
The DA is deeply concerned about Mafube’s lack of planning, maintenance, and project implementation. Communities face constant failures, unpredictability, and poor communication.
The DA will:
- Liaise with DWS on water quality testing.
- Escalate concerns to CoGTA.
- Strengthen oversight to hold Mafube accountable for delivering safe, clean drinking water.
During Deputy Minister Seitlholo’s oversight visit on 2 June 2025, Free State and Gauteng DWS heads, Dr T Ntili and Mr J Maluleke, made recommendations to improve Mafube’s water supply: prioritise operation and maintenance of infrastructure, register treatment works, recruit qualified staff, improve project and service provider management, and improve communication with communities. DWS is committed to finalising criminal investigations and addressing compliance matters.
Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act of 2000 empowers the MEC to act if maladministration, fraud, corruption or malpractice occurs in a municipality.
Water issues in Mafube have continued for two months: lack of water, frequent pipe bursts, chemical shortages, incorrect dosages, pump failures, sludge in intake sumps, broken pumps and no tanker back-up. On 29 August 2025, MIG projects were handed over but were overshadowed by dry taps in almost all Mafube towns.
The Frankfort water treatment plant is dysfunctional, with only one working sand filter. Pipeline replacement stands at 22% completion, hindered by pipe bursts and a lack of technical support.
The Tweeling borehole handover may help, but supply remains unreliable until the dysfunctional supplementary pump station is refurbished. Villiers/Qalabotjha residents have faced days without water due to chemical shortages and unpaid workers on strike.
Without urgent intervention, communities will continue to suffer the consequences of mismanagement, including dry taps, unreliable service, and worsening living conditions.