Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Dirk Kotze and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng. See attached pictures here, here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung is concerned about reduced oversight and a worsening water crisis. The Water and Sanitation Business Turnaround/Reform Strategy, approved on 30 July 2024 to secure national funding, is now criticised for lacking transparency and failing to achieve its goals.
We will be writing to the Speaker of the Council and the Provincial Treasury to intervene. We cannot allow Mangaung to run dry while the administration hides behind a veil of silence. The residents deserve a city that works, and that starts with an administration that accounts for its failures.
For a year and a half, the City Manager has not provided the Council with any formal feedback about the strategy’s progress. This lack of reporting has created an accountability gap. Meanwhile, residents continue to pay for services without knowing whether goals are being achieved or whether the substantial grant funding is being used effectively by executive leadership.
Last year, the ANC approved an 11% increase in water rates, introduced an availability water tariff of R60.66 for all residents with prepaid water meters, set a prepaid water flat rate of R382.89, and established a business rate of R1,346.71 (VAT included).
Water losses are rising as residents report burst pipes, leaking or malfunctioning meters, continued estimated billing, and ongoing sewerage problems due to deteriorating infrastructure.
Non-revenue water has increased from 49.6% to nearly 51%, meaning that over half of the City’s supply is lost before reaching consumers, resulting in annual financial losses of almost half a billion Rand for taxpayers.
The following contractors have been designated for tasks, including the refurbishment of water supply systems, water meter readings, pressure, and network zone management throughout all areas, as well as the refurbishment of civil sewer supply systems until the end of June 2026.
- Setshabelo Trading 647 (Pty) Ltd – R7 541 508.00
- Mchiliteni Fofota Investments (Pty) Ltd—R4 299 598.46
- Re-Solve (Pty) Ltd – R6 214 710.00
- Bene Tech cc—R7 612 447.00
- Iceberg—R5 950 000.00
- Big Twins – R5 950 000.00
- Manyoni and Gija Investments CC—R8 250 000.00
The DA points out that Mangaung has failed to fulfill key promises to residents, such as establishing a “Single Point of Accountability” and creating a dedicated Business Unit for infrastructure issues.
We are seeking explanations for several unmet targets and have submitted questions to the City Manager’s office.
- No progress has been made on fixing the sanitation backlog affecting 79,000 households or upgrading the Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, and Sterkwater treatment facilities.
- Repairs to thousands of water bursts and leaks are still delayed, with response times exceeding the required 24–48-hour legislative window, and
- The Council has not received updates on the planned installation of 13,293 water meters or the 10,000-unit prepaid program to reduce revenue losses. The backlog for Prepaid Water meter installations is currently around 20,000 units.
We will no longer tolerate the City Manager’s refusal to report to the people. We are demanding an immediate, comprehensive progress report on the Water and Sanitation Reform Strategy.