Barberton residents remain hesitant to drink tap water despite the reopening of the Rimer’s Creek Water Treatment Plant.

While water supply in parts of the area has stabilised, the City of Mbombela (CoM) was forced to shut down the facility on July 28 after concerns that its source had been contaminated by illegal miners allegedly processing gold along feeding streams.

Although the treatment plant has since resumed operations, illegal mining and gold refining reportedly continue in the mountains around Barberton, raising concerns about possible contamination of water sources flowing towards the treatment facility.

The situation has left residents reluctant to consume municipal water, despite assurances from the municipality that it is safe to drink.

Municipality assures water safety

CoM spokesperson Joseph Ngala said the municipality continues to treat and test the water to ensure that it meets the required safety standards. He added that the city has measures in place to monitor and purify the water before it reaches households.

Some residents remain unconvinced and have opted to purchase bottled water for drinking and cooking. They said their decision is based on concerns about the continued illegal mining activity in the catchment areas supplying the water treatment plant.

While the reopening of the plant has brought some relief, residents said they want stronger action against illegal mining and greater transparency about water-quality monitoring.

For affected communities, the issue is not only about having water flowing from their taps, but also having confidence that the water is safe to drink.

Residents are calling for authorities to intensify efforts to stop illegal mining at its source, arguing that protecting the rivers and streams is essential to safeguarding the area’s long-term water supply.

Police target illegal mining

“Law enforcement at an intergovernmental level continues to monitor the situation and a lasting solution will be sought,” said Ngala.

The Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Mavela Masondo, said police continue to fight illegal mining in the area. He said illegal miners are arrested whenever they are spotted and that police will not rest until they are removed.