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On 21 June 2024, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matjhabeng Local Municipality requested a special council meeting for Vaal Central Water (VCW) to brief the Council on their operating status and Ministerial interventions since their last address on 28 March 2023. The purpose of this meeting was to obtain a time-based action plan to terminate water-shedding in Matjhabeng. However, on 11 June 2024, the Office of the Speaker notified Councillors that VCW declined to engage with the Council, instead suggesting that "parties must meet in court."

Upon receiving notice of impending water restrictions set to be imposed on 25 July 2024, the DA requested an urgent meeting with the Municipal Manager on 22 July 2024 at 10:00. Disappointingly, this meeting was abruptly cancelled just 10 minutes before it was scheduled to take place.

In a recent meeting held between the Matjhabeng Business Forum and Dr Moorosi, CEO of VCW, it became evident that the Water Board had not been requested to engage with the Council and had not held any consultations with the municipality since issuing a Letter of Notification of non-payment on 24 June 2024. Further enquiries to the office of the Municipal Manager revealed plans for a meeting with VCW on Wednesday, 24 July 2024, and the commencement of Inter-Governmental Relations (IGR) processes between the Water Board and the municipality. However, VCW denied this, reiterating in writing on 23 July 2024 that no communication from the municipality had been received.

The discrepancies between the Municipality and the Water Board have caused serious concerns and confusion, particularly as the Council was led to believe that restrictions had been lifted due to pending IGR processes, while the Water Board's letter confirms the implementation of restrictions on 25 July 2024.

The DA has escalated these discrepancies to the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) for urgent intervention and clarity on the water restrictions in Matjhabeng. This situation underscores the need to address the underlying issues of the municipality’s poor payment rate to VCW, ongoing water-shedding, and the overall lack of transparency from the municipal administration.

Should VCW proceed with its planned restrictions, this would most likely entail the closure of water to 30% capacity. This means that areas with better pressure, typically the lowest-lying areas, will see increased consumption, while the highest-lying areas are likely to run dry. This would have a serious impact on Riebeeckstad, Hennenman, and Ventersburg.

We call on all relevant authorities to provide immediate clarity and take urgent decisive action to resolve these issues, ensuring that the residents of Matjhabeng receive the reliable water supply they rightfully deserve.

Issued by René Steyn - DA Councillor Matjhabeng Local Municipality