Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Stone Makhema and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Robert Ferendale. See attached pictures here and here.
Residents in Heilbron have been without water for days, and in some cases for weeks. We understand that the disruption is reportedly linked to a malfunctioning water pump.
This situation is deeply concerning, particularly following the dissolution of the municipal council and the appointment of an Administrator to address the municipality’s ongoing service-delivery failures.
Despite these interventions, residents continue to experience unacceptable service-delivery conditions.
We are entitled to ask:
- Why has it taken so long to replace a critical water pump?
- Why has the procurement process been delayed?
- Why does the municipality not maintain essential spare equipment for emergencies of this nature?
- These are legitimate questions, and residents deserve clear and timely answers.
- Access to water is a fundamental right. The continued failure to provide a reliable and consistent water supply is unacceptable and requires urgent intervention.
We are also deeply concerned about the ongoing electricity failures in Heilbron.
Residents have reported electricity faults remaining unresolved for several days, with some households informing the DA that they have waited up to a week for their electricity supply to be restored.
In some cases, residents have sufficient units on their prepaid meters but remain without electricity due to faults in the municipal supply system.
DA members have also tested the reporting process and verified reports of residents waiting up to five days for electricity faults to be attended to.
The DA believes that residents should not be expected to live without essential services while repeatedly reporting the same problems and waiting days for assistance.
We are also concerned about whether the service-delivery situation in Heilbron is being accurately and adequately reported to the courts, particularly in light of previous court proceedings and the reporting obligations imposed on the Administrator.
Residents deserve transparency and accountability.
The DA will therefore write to the municipal manager and seek answers on:
- Why residents are being left without water for prolonged periods?
- Why the replacement of the water pump has been delayed?
- Whether appropriate contingency plans and spare equipment are in place.
- Why are electricity faults taking days to resolve?
- Whether the Administrator is fulfilling the obligations imposed by the court.
- What immediate measures are being implemented to prevent these failures from recurring?
The residents of Heilbron cannot reasonably be expected to accept this situation.
Where the DA governs, we believe that basic services must be delivered efficiently, consistently and accountably.
The DA will continue to advocate for the residents of Heilbron, demand answers and hold those responsible for service delivery accountable.