Lesedi Local Municipality has strongly rejected claims made by DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga regarding the municipality’s handling of the ongoing water crisis, saying his remarks misrepresent the current situation and fail to acknowledge government interventions already underway.

In a statement issued on July 10, the municipality said that Msimanga’s assertions about the water supply and conditions in Ratanda were misleading and did not reflect the facts on the ground.

According to the municipality, the water supply restriction previously imposed by Rand Water has already been lifted following coordinated interventions by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Jacob Mamabolo, Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina, Rand Water and other stakeholders.

The municipality said these developments were publicly announced during a recent media briefing and criticised Msimanga for failing to acknowledge them.

It also disputed Msimanga’s claim that residents of Ratanda Ext 23 had been forced to walk approximately 45 minutes to a cemetery to collect water.

The municipality said a borehole is operational in Ext 23 and that water tankers continue to supply strategic areas of the community, while efforts to stabilise the water network are ongoing.

Executive Mayor Clr Mluleki Nkosi expressed appreciation to Lesufi, Mamabolo, Majodina, Rand Water and members of the multi-disciplinary task team for their continued support in addressing the municipality’s water challenges.

The municipality also responded to comments made by Msimanga regarding the General Valuation Roll, saying the matter is currently before the Full Bench of the Johannesburg High Court after the municipality was granted leave to appeal.

As a result, it said the matter is sub judice and cannot be discussed further. Lesedi Local Municipality called on political leaders and public representatives to communicate responsibly, saying the municipality’s water challenges require cooperation, factual reporting and constructive engagement rather than political point-scoring.

The government has meanwhile continued to appeal for calm while the multi-disciplinary task team implements measures to restore a stable and sustainable water supply across the municipality.

On July 9, Lesufi, Mamabolo and Nkosi again visited families who lost loved ones during the recent unrest in Ratanda to offer support and provide updates on government’s ongoing response to the crisis.