Despite owing Rand Water millions, Merafong municipality has allowed water leaks to continue unabated for more than a year.
On 4 May, the Herald once again took a look at a municipal fire hydrant on the corner of Anthracite and Azurite streets in Carletonville that has been leaking for more than a year. The frustrated owner of the house closest to the leak, Mr Thabo Motjamela, says he is so fed-up with the overgrowth on the sidewalk that he has paid someone to
cut it from his own pocket.

According to him, the leak has been there for about two years without anyone doing
anything about it. It has not only caused the grass to encroach on the road surface, it has also damaged the road elsewhere. A municipal spokesperson admitted that the relevant department was aware of the situation and said it was waiting for the valve to
arrive.

‘The component is expected to be replaced on Friday, 12 May. After the installation, the road will be assessed and corrective measures instituted,’ he said on Tuesday.
In the meantime, the municipality could not explain why Carletonville and Fochville have been experiencing water shortages over the past week. It did acknowledge, though, that the municipality currently owes Rand Water R25.7 million.