In recent times, Matjhabeng Local Municipality has borne the brunt of water supply challenges.
The incumbent administration declared the locality as a disaster and as a result, the locality has been recieving assistance through the Ministerial intervention since July 2022. The intervention includes Matjhabeng, implementing agent Bloem Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation.
The scope of work to be covered includes refurbishment or upgrading of waste water treatment works, refurbishment of sewer pump stations, sewer pipe network repairs and unblocking of manholes.
The total number of projects in the program are 78 for the next 4 years with 59 priority projects.
29 priority projects are to be activated in the 2023/2024 financial year including sewer network pipeline repairs and the refurbishment or upgrading of pump stations.
Bloem Water has also been doing maintenance to secure water supply to the locality as well as the greater Lejweleputswa District.
Areas such as Ventersburg, Mmamahabane, Allanridge and Riebeeckstad have been hardest hit by the water challenge.
Water shedding has been implemented to assist water reservoirs to fill up during the night in order to enable water supply water during the day.
Other contingency measures include the installation of boreholes in the Municipality’s wards. The process to install boreholes in 30 wards is at an advanced stage, with 2 already installed at ward 3 (Phomolong Henneman and ward 10 Riebeeckstad) and four underway in ward 1, 2, 17 & 25.
Furthermore, the Municipality now has a total of 11 water tankers to supply water to affected areas when necessary. Ward Councillors are assisting the officials tasked with implementing the distribution plan to identify affected communities.
Two new water tankers were procurred earlier this week to the tune of R4943298.00. The two UD Trucks each have the capacity to hold 18000 litres of water.
Matjhabeng Local Municipality has also embarked on the Operation Patala initiative to boost revenue collection in the locality so as to service its debt to Bloem Water.
The municipality and Bloem Water have each committed to contribute R4 million to refurbish the vandalised Saiplaas water treatment plant in Virginia, which will be used to distribute water to some parts of Thabong and Welkom.
The work has begun in earnest and an armed security company will be appointed to patrol and safeguard the plant and the pipeline.
It has been discovered that Matjhabeng loses most of its water due to pipe leaks. As a result, repairing pipe leaks has been prioritised in order to address the problem.
This week’s improved water supply is as a result of improved pumping capacity at the Balkfontein water treatment plant.
All hands are on deck to speedily resolve the water challenge and provide a long term solution to water crisis facing the area. A war room consisting of leadership and officials from Department of Water and Sanitation, Bloem Water and Matjhabeng Local Municipality has been established and meet virtually daily at 07:00am and 17:00pm.
As of 06h00 this morning, water resevoir levels were as follows:
Old high level: 2%
New high level:31%
Dirksburg 1: 60%
Dirksburg 2: 77%
Brabant 1: 16%
Brabant 2: 54%
Residents can report water leaks on 0573913911.
*Matjhabeng Local Municipality
Communications Unit*
*Mmoho Together Sisonke Tesame*