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The Democratic Alliance (DA) is reporting nine months’ worth of debilitating intermittent water shortages in Warrenton to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). This comes amidst Magareng municipality’s unwillingness to hastily implement short term solutions to assist with the immediate provision of this basic human right.

Water shortages in places like Ikhutseng, the station area, Warrenvale, and to a lesser extent the town area, have become the norm and have prompted protests on the N12.

The bottom line is that the water treatment plant can no longer meet the demand for domestic water. This is the result of the increase in the number of households over a long period of time, poor maintenance over many years, a lack of funds for maintenance, theft of electrical cables, vandalism and the reluctance of the National Department of Water and Sanitation to expand the capacity of the plant, as was allegedly recommended more than 20 years ago.

While an 18-moth expansion project of the water treatment plant is finally underway, which should eventually see water provision able to meet water demand, the municipality has downright failed to implement sustainable interim measures to affected communities. This includes adequate and regular refilling of Jojo tanks and the fixing of a massive broken water pipe. Issues at the water purification plant further aggravated the water supply backlog.

In November last year, I wrote to the Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, asking him to interact with COGHSTA MEC, Bentley Vass, to ensure that assistance was provided over the festive season to cope with the annual influx of visitors. I wrote to the premier out of desperation because of the MEC’s unresponsiveness. I, however, also never got a response from the premier, so I will now refer this matter to the SAHRC.

The DA hopes that clear recommendations from the SAHRC in respect of water provision to the people of Warrenton, will stop government from conveniently turning a blind eye to the Magareng water crisis.

All residents deserve access to water to meet their immediate needs, even more so in the midst of a deadly pandemic.

Issued by The DA