In a bid to accelerate a long-delayed infrastructure upgrade, South Africa’s Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo and Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong conducted an oversight visit on Tuesday to the Brits Water Treatment Works in the North West province. The inspection comes amid mounting pressure to resolve chronic water shortages that have plagued the Madibeng Local Municipality for over a decade, affecting tens of thousands of residents in this resource-rich but inequality-scarred region.
The Brits Water Treatment Works, a flagship project of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), is designed to bolster water supply for Madibeng and surrounding areas. Funded through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant at over R80 million and implemented by the Magalies Water Board, the initiative aims to fulfill the government’s constitutional mandate to provide safe and reliable water. Once completed, the plant’s capacity will expand from 60 to 80 megalitres per day, enhancing raw water treatment, pumping systems, pipelines, and distribution networks to bulk reservoirs. Officials project it will serve an additional 75,373 households, with full operations targeted for March 2026.
During the visit, the deputy ministers emphasized urgency, issuing stern warnings to Madibeng officials and Magalies Water against further delays. “Continued delays will not be tolerated,” Mahlobo stated, underscoring the need for swift completion to alleviate community hardships. The project, part of broader efforts to support water services authorities, has faced setbacks, mirroring systemic issues in the municipality.
Madibeng, nestled near major dams like Hartbeespoort and Klipvoor, paradoxically boasts abundant water resources yet endures severe shortages among its predominantly Black and poor communities. Historical inequalities, rooted in apartheid-era policies that relegated Black workers to impoverished homelands like Bophuthutswana, continue to exacerbate the crisis. Wealthy mines, farms, and tourism operations enjoy uninterrupted supplies, often at lower costs, while residents in townships queue for hours at communal taps or go without water for weeks.
The water woes trace back at least to 2011, when DWS acknowledged that serious challenges in Madibeng had created immense backlogs in sanitation eradication. By 2014, frustrations boiled over into violent protests in Mothutlung, where outages left residents without water for extended periods. Four protesters were killed by police using live ammunition, drawing parallels to apartheid-era repression and prompting investigations by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The commission’s report highlighted how protests stemmed from prolonged shortages, with children missing school to fetch water and increased risks of gender-based violence for women and girls carrying heavy loads.
In 2015, parliamentary hearings revealed ageing infrastructure as a primary culprit, with the municipality struggling to meet demands due to poor maintenance and capacity gaps. The North West provincial government intervened under Section 139 of the Constitution, citing service delivery failures that fueled unrest. Residents like those in Oukasie and Letlhabile reported contaminated supplies from water tankers, leading to outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, and typhoid—diseases that infringe on constitutional rights to health and dignity.
Academic studies underscore these systemic failures. A 2020 analysis found Madibeng’s water system faltering due to political interference between the local and Bojanala Platinum District municipalities, scarce technical skills, and inadequate monitoring. Over 35% of residents lack access to safe drinking water, with constrained capacity hindering consistent provision. Health impacts are profound: contaminated water promotes diseases, undermining sustainable development and living standards.
Financial mismanagement compounds the problem. In 2021, the City of Tshwane threatened to restrict supplies over unpaid bills exceeding R100 million, while activist groups like Save Madibeng demanded accountability. A 2023 report labeled Madibeng South Africa’s worst municipality, with billions wasted amid water shortages, untarred roads, and unemployment. Residents in areas like Madidi Village and Phasha Maloka endured no water since early 2024, with frequent outages in Brits and Hartbeespoort blamed on dilapidated pipes.
The municipality’s annual report indicates only 15% of residents receive constant piped water, per Statistics South Africa’s 2022 census: 39% have in-home access, 30% in yards, 10% at communal taps, and 18% none at all. Corruption in tenders for water services, including tanks, has been alleged, with indigent policies failing to deliver free basic water uniformly. SAHRC findings call for capacity building, infrastructure maintenance, and intergovernmental cooperation to address these inequities.
Critics, including the Democratic Alliance, argue recent budgets exacerbate the crisis. Madibeng’s 2024 adjustment budget reallocated R14 million from community services to fleet management, offering no new funds for water despite under-delivery. “This unfunded budget ignores the plight of residents facing regular shortages,” the party noted.
Recommendations from experts include training for technical staff, harmonious district relations, and state incentives for capacity building. The SAHRC urges sustainable solutions over reactive measures, emphasizing police accountability in protests to prevent further tragedies.
As the deputy ministers departed, locals expressed cautious optimism about the Brits upgrade. Yet, with a history of unfulfilled promises, the visit highlights the urgent need for systemic reform in Madibeng, where water remains a symbol of enduring divides.
