ERMELO – Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s recognition as one of Mpumalanga’s “most improved” municipalities for water services has sparked scepticism among residents, many of whom say daily supply issues remain unresolved.

The award, based on improvements between 2022 and 2025, saw the municipality’s performance score rise from around 17% to 67%, reflecting gains in drinking water quality, wastewater treatment and conservation efforts.

However, the announcement was met with criticism on social media, with residents questioning the credibility of the recognition and highlighting persistent outages, interruptions and inconsistent service delivery.

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Some acknowledged improvements, but stressed that reliability remains a major concern.

Historical data show the municipality started from a low base, with a 17% score in the 2022 Green Drop report and wastewater systems classified as critical.

While progress has been recorded, many residents say it has yet to translate into consistent access to water.

Read more about the public responses in the Highvelder’s printed edition.