The general manager of the Middelburg Care Village, Mr Kobus Koekemoer, says the water leak has been flowing through the village’s property for years, causing significant water damage to their infrastructure, while numerous attempts to report it to the municipality has turned out futile.

During a site visit, it was determined by a staff member in long service of the organisation, that the water has been flowing through the premises for at least five years.

It runs from a drainage trench passing beneath the railway line behind the village, flowing into the village’s workshop, where it has come to lift their paving, as well as filtering in beneath the foundation of their homes.

Mr Koekemoer pointed out that the borehole inside their workshop, measuring roughly one metre deep, is also filled with water, which filters in through the bricks, “I drained the borehole last week and it refilled within an hour.”

The DA ward councillor for Aerorand, Mr Hennie Niemann, told the Middelburg Observer that he is well aware of the leak and that he habitually reports it every morning.

He explained that the damaged pumps at the vliegveld reservoirs in Aerorand result in municipal workers having to check reservoir levels before closing off the inflow, “It happens that the reservoir often fills up and overflows before they close off the water supply. Which means that it is good and pure drinking water flowing down the drains.”

Despite reporting the issue frequently, Cllr Niemann has vowed to refer the matter to the Executive Director of Infrastructure Services, Regina Magatla.