Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr David Ross and Sesotho soundbites by David Masoeu MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nala Municipality has escalated the ongoing Monyakeng water crisis to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) through intergovernmental processes, calling for urgent, coordinated action.
For the past two months, residents in Monyakeng have experienced intermittent water supply, resulting in significant hardship. The municipality’s lack of decisive action has compelled the DA in Nala Municipality to approach COGTA, utilising the DA’s Member of the Provincial Legislature to highlight the severe situation facing Monyakeng’s residents.
A review of water supply issues affecting both Wesselsbron and Monyakeng reveals critical problems at the Riebeeckstad Reservoir. This facility provides water not only to portions of the Matjhabeng Municipality but also to Wesselsbron and Monyakeng, which fall under the jurisdiction of Nala Municipality.
Specifically, the Monyakeng region has been subjected to sporadic water interruptions. These disruptions are primarily due to pipeline leaks, low reservoir levels, and deteriorating infrastructure.
As early as 22 July 2018, the DA wrote to the Deputy Director-General of the National Treasury’s Intergovernmental Relations division to address concerns about the region’s bulk water supply, or lack thereof.
The escalating failure to provide reliable water access to Nala’s residents poses a direct threat to the livelihoods of both local businesses and community members.
In response to the worsening situation, the DA has submitted an urgent letter to Administrator Amos Goliath, outlining several proposals to resolve these challenges. The correspondence has also been copied to COGTA.
The proposals specifically address the difficulties of managing the municipality with an unfunded budget and the absence of a revenue enhancement plan, as required by the National Treasury. The DA in Nala Municipality has put forward a series of initiatives designed to strengthen financial viability and improve accountability. These measures include:
- Adoption of a realistic and fully funded budget;
- Implementation of a revenue enhancement plan and securing the necessary funding;
- Ensuring regular monthly payments to bulk supply providers;
- Addressing ESKOM debt obligations through a Service Level Agreement (SLA);
- Maintaining a Service Level Agreement with Vaal Central Water (VCW);
- Prioritising efforts to reduce water loss throughout Nala Municipality.
The DA in Nala Municipality, therefore, calls for the urgent intervention of COGTA to pursue accountability for the failure to address the need for an additional pipeline and the refurbishment of the existing dormant reservoir in Wesselsbron.