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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has lodged a formal complaint with the Office of the Public Protector in the Northern Cape regarding Magareng Municipality’s failure to restore a reliable water supply to residents of Windsorton Station, who have been without proper access to water for almost three years.

The crisis began on 15 October 2023, when the control box of the solar-powered water pump system at the borehole on Windsorton Road was stolen. We immediately reported the matter in writing to the then Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Tumelo Thage, who has since been appointed Municipal Manager.

The situation was compounded by the subsequent theft of one of the solar panels. The DA confirmed that criminal cases were opened for both incidents. We also ensured that the remaining solar panels were removed from the installation and placed in the municipal stores for safekeeping, pending the restoration of the water supply.

Since the theft, the DA has consistently put pressure on the municipality to restore the water supply. The matter has been raised at committee and council meetings, and the DA went as far as sourcing quotations for a replacement control box and pump to assist the municipality in expediting the repairs.

The DA also brought the matter to the attention of the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), Members of Parliament and the Department of Water and Sanitation, and we ran a petition to demand water restoration.

While municipal electricians have visited the Windsorton Road installation several times to assess the damage, no lasting solution has been implemented to date.

As a result, the prolonged water crisis continues to impact on the quality of life of about 40 residents who endure an ongoing lack of access to a sustainable water supply.

The municipality’s handling of this matter demonstrates a disturbing lack of urgency and accountability towards the residents of Windsorton Station.

A DA-led local government will treat access to water as a priority and reinvest water-generated revenue into fixing broken pumps, pipes and water systems. Residents can choose this option on 4 November and vote for a government that will prioritise reliable and sustainable water services.

Issued by Magareng Municipality Cllr Willem Potgieter -