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Mangaung’s water woes see no end in sight. The Municipality does not submit any information on its Municipal Strategic Self-Assessment (MuSSA) as required by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

The Department of Water and Sanitation oversees the annual use of the MuSSA, to assess the overall “business health” of a municipality when fulfilling its water services function.

Without the MuSSA, the department is not informed and does not have the necessary information about the condition and level of services that are provided, which makes it impossible to assume its support role as required by the Constitution and other relevant legislation.

With the current situation in Mangaung regarding the availability of water as well as the quality thereof, we cannot afford to miss a single opportunity to address our water challenges.

It is a disgrace and a slap in the face to the residents of Mangaung that the MMC for Infrastructure cannot get the basics right, by submitting the necessary information to receive critical support.

The DA has compiled a comprehensive report of all the threats and challenges to our water supply and resources. We will submit it to the MMC for Infrastructure, the Head of the Department, and the acting Municipal manager, to enable them to urgently update the MuSSA before the deadline of 31 March 2023.

We will continue to hold the political leadership and officials of the ANC-governed municipality accountable.

The DA is committed to ensuring a safe and reliable water supply for all the residents of the greater Mangaung and urges all residents to register to vote in the 2024 national and provincial elections.

Issued by Selmé Pretorius - DA Councillor Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality