The DA is appalled that the Kampersrus community has been suffering without water for more than a week. This yet again shows that the Mopani District Municipality is completely unable to maintain the most basic water infrastructure system, after years of empty promises to the residents.

Kampersrus has been without water since 22 August 2019. Due to the bulk water system not being completed, the Kampersrus community has to rely solely on boreholes and electrical pumps for their water supply. It has become clear that pump at the Soetdoring borehole is broken and that there are other boreholes that are not functioning properly. This comes after years of neglect and ineptitude by contractors and government officials who often install incorrect pumps and pipes causing the boreholes to stop functioning.

Kampersrus is a very small rural town in the Maruleng municipal area. For years both the Mopani District Municipality and the Maruleng Municipality have promised bulk water supply to Kampersrus to alleviate the many problems that the community experience with the boreholes. However, these have been nothing empty promises.
An invitation to bid for the Kampersrus Bulk Water Supply was issued by the Mopani District Municipality in September 2012 and the projects has still not been finished.

In the 2015/16 budget for the Mopani District Municipality R181, 948 000 was allocated to Maruleng Local Municipality to complete water related projects. These projects included the continued construction of the Mametja Sekororo Raw Water Scheme, the upgrading of water reticulation networks in various villages, as well as the Hoedspruit Bulk Water Supply and Kampersrus Water Supply & Sewerage Scheme.

Not a single one of these projects have been completed. Villages are still forced to get their water from mountain streams with pipes that the communities purchased without any assistance from the Municipality. Hoedspruit is still getting water from the Airforce base and Kampersrus is still relying on boreholes, which are currently not working.

In the 2019/20- 2023/24 IDP for the Mopani District Municipality more than R120 000 000 has been allocated by way of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant to fund the Kampersrus Bulk Water Reticulation. It is despicable that this project has been ongoing since 2012 and money has continually been wasted while those who live in Kampersrus have been suffering under an uncaring ANC government.

The inability and incompetence shown by the Mopani District Municipality to maintain a constant flow of water causes residents to pay for air that fills the pipes. This also causes damage to geysers and leads to pipes bursting, causing additional financial burdens to residents.

Unless the water is restored within 24 hours, the DA will lodge a complaint with the Human Rights Commission as water is a basic human right that residents are being deprived of. The DA will also run a petition in the Kampersrus Community.

Issued by DA