Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Brunhilde Rossouw and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached video here.
The communities of Winburg and Makeleketla are facing an imminent “Day Zero” scenario, with local water reserves critically low after months of municipal neglect and vandalism. The DA in Masilonyana will escalate this matter to the South African Human Rights Commission and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
I have issued an urgent warning that the municipality must act immediately to prevent a humanitarian disaster. The crisis stems from simultaneous failures at the town’s two primary water sources: the Wolwas Dam and the Rietfontein Dam.
- Wolwas Dam: The Vandalism Crisis
Winburg is now almost entirely reliant on the Wolwas Dam. However, the dam’s levels are critically low, estimated at just 10%, due to a mechanical failure left unaddressed for over eight months.
The pump that transfers water into the Wolwas Dam was vandalised in May 2025 and remains unrepaired. This pump is vital because the Wolwas Dam is not in a natural catchment area; it relies entirely on this mechanism to collect water from a nearby rivulet that flows only during the rainy season. Without it, the dam cannot refill, even during rainfall.
- Rietfontein Dam: The Contamination Crisis
Adding to the threat, the Rietfontein Dam, Winburg’s alternative water source, is currently unusable. It is “drenched in sewer” and poses a severe health risk. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has flagged the poor water quality, ruling it unfit for human consumption.
The dam contains only 2 meters of contaminated water; the rest is sludge. Urgent sludge removal and immediate cessation of sewage inflow are required to prevent further public health risks.
The DA has repeatedly sounded the alarm about the broken Wolwas pump, warning that Winburg risks total water loss. Last week, photographic and video evidence of the empty dam was presented at an Exco Meeting. The Director of Infrastructure acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and promised urgent repairs to resume pumping operations.
Despite these assurances, concern remains high due to a history of ignored requests. The municipality has consistently failed to act on previous warnings. We cannot afford another day of delay. “DAY ZERO” is at Winburg’s doorstep, and thousands of residents will be left without water.
Winburg cannot survive on the dwindling water supply from Wolwas Dam alone. Both dams must function to provide sufficient water to the community. With the Rietfontein Dam offline due to pollution and the Wolwas Dam failing due to broken infrastructure, immediate intervention is critical.