Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Paul Kotzé and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung will continue to apply pressure on the Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM) to ensure long-term water security and the consistent delivery of basic services for the residents of Mangaung. Reliable access to water is not only a constitutional right but also the foundation upon which local economies and jobs depend.
The DA will work closely with our representatives in the Provincial Legislature’s Petitions Committee to demand clear timelines, accountability, and transparent progress from the municipality regarding the long-delayed Pellissier reservoir.
The DA extends sincere gratitude to the community of Pellissier, Trots Pellissier, and its Chairperson, Ansie Coetzee, for their unwavering commitment to driving a petition to the Provincial Legislature’s Petitions Committee. Their efforts, supported by the local DA branch, reflect the community’s unity and persistence in addressing the ongoing water provision crisis. The petition draws attention to the decade-long delay in constructing the Pellissier reservoir, a critical infrastructure project that has been languishing in municipal plans for nearly twenty years.
Residents have repeatedly engaged the municipality, yet responses have been limited to short-term fixes and empty promises. While the Metro might claim that “there is water in the taps today,” this narrow focus on temporary relief ignores the broader, systemic failures of basic service delivery. Every day without a reliable water supply hampers small businesses, reduces productivity, and threatens job security. Service delivery is not just about infrastructure; it is about sustaining livelihoods and restoring public confidence in a municipality that has neglected its duty to serve.
The petition proposes three urgent interventions:
- The immediate construction of a dedicated reservoir for Pellissier would provide a permanent engineering solution to the suburb’s geographical disadvantage.
- The appointment of an independent engineering company to conduct a 60-day technical assessment of the supply lines to identify recurring blockages and valve failures, followed by the immediate implementation of repairs.
- The inspection and improvement of the water intake at Welbedacht Dam, which becomes blocked yearly without any lasting solution to prevent its recurrence.
During the Petitions Committee meeting, Mangaung officials appeared unprepared and offered vague excuses such as “things can’t happen overnight.” Yet in Mangaung, things often fail to happen even after seven years.
The Committee has since instructed MMM to return with a comprehensive report and tangible solutions.
We will continue to hold the municipality accountable, ensuring that dignity and opportunity flow alongside water in every community.