Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Hardie Viviers and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng. See attached pictures here, here and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung has written to the municipal administration, expressing grave concern over the unaffordability of water services in the Metro, driven by the blatant failure to allocate funds for water provision.
On 26 February 2026, during the meeting regarding the Adjustment Budget, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipal (MMM) Council has resolved that R20 million will be allocated for emergency procurement of water treatment chemicals and R30 million to be allocated for operations and maintenance at Maselspoort Water Treatment and Purification Plant, causing unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure in terms of Section 29 of the MFMA.
Despite these allocations, the Council has received zero feedback regarding implementation. Water supply remains under extreme pressure due to:
- Infrastructure neglect: Potable water losses currently stand at a staggering 48%.
- Energy instability: Unreliable electricity at the CENTLEC Bayswater DC further hampers operations.
- Missing accountability: Funds disappearing into a “black hole”, with no visible progress on maintenance or fixing leaks.
While infrastructure crumbles, Vaal Central Water and MMM have proposed a 11% tariff hike for the 2026/27 Budget. It is unacceptable to demand more from residents when existing funds are not utilised to secure the water supply.
The DA’s Five-Point Plan Solution for Mangaung:
- If the DA were governing MMM, we would immediately implement a turnaround strategy to ensure affordable and sustainable water:
- Infrastructure overhaul, by investing in upgrading and maintaining infrastructure to ensure a reliable and efficient water supply and addressing long-standing treatment facility backlogs.
- Loss reduction, by optimising water usage, by implementing water-saving technologies and aggressively fixing leaks to stop the 48% loss.
- Cost-effective innovation, by exploring alternative sources and expand supply systems to improve delivery efficiency.
- Community partnership, by promoting water conservation through resident education on environmental impacts.
- Radical transparency, by implementing regular, public reports on water usage, maintenance of infrastructure, and the specific use of funds allocated for water services.
By focusing on the above, MMM can effectively address the water crisis and ensure its residents have access to affordable, sustainable water services.
The residents of Mangaung deserve access to reliable, affordable water services.