DR JS MOROKA, MPUMALANGA — As South Africa prepares for the upcoming local government elections, the escalating Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality water crisis has placed basic service delivery under intense national scrutiny. In the Mpumalanga province, communities are grappling with severe infrastructure deficits, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable municipal solutions.
In the newly established area of Msukanyoni in Maphotla, residents have endured a lack of reliable water, electricity, and other essential services for approximately 12 years. Community leaders report that the situation has reached a critical point, forcing locals to rely on stagnant, unsafe water from a local water-hole shared with livestock.
Residents accuse the local municipality of failing to provide adequate support, noting the frustration of being left without water despite the municipality utilizing three distinct water sources—boreholes, direct purification via pipelines, and water tankers—to serve surrounding communities. According to community leaders, one of the primary boreholes they heavily rely on has been non-functional for over four months.
The reliance on unsafe water sources has sparked severe public health concerns. Locals report that children are frequently suffering from stomach cramps and other illnesses due to consuming water contaminated by animals, including cows and goats, that drink from the same stagnant pools. Furthermore, the distance to local clinics exacerbates the health risks for vulnerable families.
Expressing deep frustration with local councilors, residents noted that their pleas for help have gone unheeded. The prolonged service delivery failures have also impacted civic engagement, with some community members expressing a loss of faith in the voting process, arguing that elections have yet to translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives or health outcomes.
Addressing the ongoing challenges, a municipal spokesperson acknowledged the severe water shortages affecting the area, particularly in newly established communities. The spokesperson detailed the alternative measures currently in place, including the installation of stand pumps and multiple storage tanks ranging from 500 to 10,000 liters.
However, the spokesperson highlighted that infrastructure vandalism and theft have severely hindered these efforts. The stand pumps are currently out of commission due to frequent pipe breaks, and the municipality’s largest 10,000-liter storage tank was recently stolen. The municipal spokesperson condemned the sabotage, describing the theft and destruction of community infrastructure as “selfish” acts that deprive residents of essential services for personal financial gain.
In a move toward resolving the crisis, a Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) spokesperson confirmed that the department is actively collaborating with the local municipality to address the water shortages.
The DWS representative explained that the department had previously accepted a long-outstanding request to develop a new regional water scheme for the area. Initially, the DWS required the municipality to co-fund the project. However, recognizing that Dr JS Moroka lacks the necessary financial resources and existing water infrastructure to meet those costs, the department has recently agreed to fully fund the new water scheme.
Moving forward, the municipality states it is working closely with various stakeholders, including the DWS, to implement these long-term solutions and restore reliable basic service delivery to the affected residents.