Stakeholders gather to address water supply failures
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Sello Seitlholo has instructed that a collaborative task team be formed between the Rustenburg Local Municipality and Magalies Water, tasking it with drawing up a detailed strategy for delivering reliable water services to the people of Rustenburg.
The directive was handed down on Monday during a stakeholder engagement session held at the Rustenburg Civic Centre Council Chamber. Representatives from various organisations involved in local water provision gathered to review the status of current interventions and examine the obstacles hampering consistent supply to communities.
Among the issues raised was the deteriorating state of water infrastructure in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality area. Officials from the municipality highlighted that ageing systems and the ongoing vandalism of boreholes had led to repeated disruptions in service delivery across multiple localities.
"This meeting is not about presenting perfect reports. It is about presenting the true situation so that we can work together to find solutions."
Seitlholo responded by indicating that the municipality could be included in the Department of Water and Sanitation's National Borehole Refurbishment Programme, which aims to restore boreholes that have fallen out of operation. He also pressed all stakeholders to provide honest and thorough evaluations of the infrastructure and operational difficulties they face, cautioning that no meaningful progress can be made if the full extent of challenges remains hidden.
Sanitation must receive equal attention
Beyond the immediate water supply concerns, the Deputy Minister stressed that deteriorating sanitation conditions demand the same level of urgency. He pointed to communities grappling not only with dry taps but also with overflowing sewerage networks and malfunctioning wastewater treatment facilities that cause raw sewage to spill into residential areas.
"Communities are not only affected by water shortages [but] also by flooded sewer systems and failing wastewater treatment plants that result in sewage spillages. Sanitation is just as important as water supply."
Seitlholo called on the Rustenburg Local Municipality and Magalies Water to deepen their engagement around water allocation matters, with the goal of improving coordination and alignment between the two entities. He further urged all municipalities in the region to strengthen their working relationships with Magalies Water so that infrastructure projects can be delivered efficiently and within the timeframes that have been agreed upon.
"Sustainable solutions require cooperation, accountability and a shared commitment to improving water and sanitation services for communities."
The establishment of the proposed task team is expected to bring greater structure to efforts aimed at resolving the persistent water and sanitation difficulties faced by Rustenburg residents.
