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The national Department of Water and Sanitation has acknowledged that Bloemwater has a budget shortfall of R377 million to address the maintenance backlog in Matjhabeng Local Municipality regarding water infrastructure.

In a written parliamentary reply to the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, indicated that Bloemwater has allocated R25,2 million for the maintenance of infrastructure, whilst it needs R402 million to address the maintenance backlog.

On top of this, the municipality has on various occasions defaulted on its payment to the water board and owes Bloemwater roughly R5 billion in debt from previous years. The water board under such circumstances cannot be expected to deliver services in the way it is contracted to do.

Matjhabeng loses 56% of its water due to failing infrastructure, per year, amounting to R324 million worth of water lost, according to the latest Auditor General report.

The people of Matjhabeng are therefore faced with a lack of water supply for weeks on end whilst the water board does not get paid by the municipality and therefore cannot do maintenance. The infrastructure that is in place further deteriorates and water problems will therefore increase. It is not difficult to see where this is heading.

If you live in Matjhabeng and you don't have water due to no maintenance: blame the ANC.

The DA calls on the Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, to include in his State of the Province Address tomorrow some indication of how the Free State provincial government will work with the national government to urgently address this slippery slope to ensure that Matjhabeng is not forced into a full-scale crisis soon. Residents of Riebeeckstad were without water for 7 weeks recently and their water problems have still not completely been resolved.

It is unacceptable that residents should suffer like this due to political incompetence. Water Boards should also be assisted to effectively hold defaulting clients, the municipalities, to account.

Issued by George Michalakis MP - DA Constituency Head for Matjhabeng Local Municipality