PHALABORWA – A small group of Phalaborwa residents staged a peaceful protest outside Mopani TVET College during a recent visit by Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo.

The demonstration coincided with the two-day campus safety campaign from March 30 to 31 at the college’s Phalaborwa Campus.

“We now have water shedding”

While the event was underway, protesters gathered outside to voice their dissatisfaction with the ongoing water supply problems in the region.

Speaking to the Herald, resident Marie Malan said the protest was intended to draw national government attention to what she described as a persistent water crisis.

“We now have water shedding. We are supposed to receive water on a rotational basis, with areas such as Namakgale, but sometimes, when it is our turn, water only runs for an hour or a few hours. When we phone people in Namakgale, they also say they don’t have water,” Malan said.

She added that the problem goes beyond the impact of recent floods.

DA warns tourism businesses face closure

Meanwhile, the DA in Limpopo has called for urgent intervention by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Water and Sanitation.

The party warned that the ongoing water crisis threatens the long-term viability of Phalaborwa.

In a statement, the DA said that during a meeting with party councillors, local businesses, and tourism operators, including lodges and guest houses, stakeholders indicated that many establishments may be forced to close and lay off staff due to the lack of a reliable water supply.

The party argues that the crisis is not due to a lack of water resources, but rather a failure of governance.

“For years, residents have endured daily water shedding because of the collapse of the town’s reticulation system. Despite repeated engagements, Mopani District and Ba-Phalaborwa municipalities have failed to maintain ageing infrastructure while allowing densification without upgrading an already strained system,” the statement said.

Mopani District blames LNW

Responding to the criticism, Mopani District spokesperson Odas Ngobeni said most Phalaborwa communities rely on the Phalaborwa Water Treatment Plant, which is operated by Lepelle Northern Water.

“Lepelle is responsible for bulk water distribution, and many of its pipelines were damaged during the floods. They have been issuing regular public updates on the situation,” Ngobeni said.

“As Mopani, we take full responsibility for areas such as Selwane, which depend on the Nandoni Water Treatment Plant that we manage. However, we cannot take over Lepelle’s plant.”

Ngobeni added that the municipality is assisting affected communities by supplying water through tanker services.

LNW blames illegal connections

Lepelle Northern Water spokesperson Joe Makhafula told the Herald that the 546mm pipe material is expected to be delivered by this Friday. “The estimated time to complete the work is three weeks from the date of delivery.”

He said the 6B pump repairs will be completed by next Friday. “While Phalaborwa town has supply, supply to Namakgale is less due to illegal connections on the bulk line.”