The truth about the Mothutlung water crisis
The DA in the North West is concerned about the political spin of Minister Edna Molewa about the water crisis in the Madibeng Municipality (Brits) which lead to the death of at least three people.
The crisis has not been the result, as the minister has implied, of a sudden and unexpected breakdown of the water pumps in Madibeng. During her explanation to the community of Mothutlung, Minister Molewa failed to state that two of the three water pumps (300cubic m/h each) serving the Mothutlung and Damonsville communities had been out of service for more than two years. The municipality did not care enough to repair the pumps before. When the third 600-700 cubic meter /hour pump broke down the communities were left with only the water remaining in the reservoirs.
After the national outcry this week, all three pumps were sent in for repair on Tuesday: One will be operational later today, another one will be back in operation before Friday while the bigger pump should be functional during the weekend.
The negligence by the municipality in not maintaining critical infrastructure has in the past resulted in communities being without water for months. This was not the first time that Mothutlung went without water.
Minister Molewa should expand her investigation - 4 of the other 9 pumps providing water to communities in the Madibeng Municipality have also been dysfunctional for months - one of these pumps has disappeared.
Several investigations into the affairs of this dysfunctional municipality have already been conducted - however the findings and reports of these investigations remain a tightly guarded secret. The DA calls on the NW Premier to table all these reports and to give feedback on the implementation of the recommendations. Swift and decisive action will be required to start to turn around the troubled municipality.
Statement issued by Chris Hattingh, DA Leader in North West, January 15 2014
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