Yesterday, Makana residents from communities in Makhanda confronted the Municipal Manager to demand access to water. Areas such as Tantyi, Joza, Hlalani, Fingo, upper Miles Street, upper Fitzroy Street, Scott’s Farm, Vergenoeg, Nkanini and all the higher areas on the Eastern side of town, are either intermittently or permanently without access to water.
Despite new pump sets being ordered for the Howieson’s Poort Dam and the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works, these pumps have yet to arrive and be installed. Other challenges include dilapidating water infrastructure, municipal incapacity and sabotage of pump stations.
It is widely understood that a cabal of officials is responsible for the sabotage of municipal infrastructure, in order to secure lucrative overtime hours.
I have written to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to request a forensic investigation into the Procurement and Supply Chain Departments, as well as the Human Resources Department responsible for overtime. I have also written to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Zolile Williams, to establish the true monthly cost of overtime work in the municipality.
Recently the National Department of Water and Sanitation acknowledged that both iron and manganese levels are above the recommended levels for potable water. This causes higher acidity which has corrosive effects. Makana Municipality assured residents that monitoring and mitigating measures would be initiated, but they have once again reneged on their commitment.
The DA has previously raised the ongoing water challenges with local, provincial and national stakeholders, but government refuses to act decisively.
The ANC-led provincial government has failed the people of this province and the ANC-led Makana Municipality has failed the residents of Makhanda, Riebeeck East and Alicedale. In the three recent by-elections in the province, the ANC took a proper beating, yet they are paralyzed by incapable cadres and protectionism.
When officials are employed based on political patronage instead of competence, services collapse. If the ANC continues to treat the people of Makhanda with contempt, the residents will return the favour and punish them in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The DA will continue to fight for the rights of all residents of Makana, because every single resident deserves ongoing access to basic services and a meaningful life of dignity.