Residents say the lack of consistent water supply is costing them money and affecting their daily lives. Community members often go several days without water and, therefore, are forced to buy water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene.

Residents in Ward 27 said they spend between R200 for a small tanker and R400 for a large tanker almost every week, buying water from private suppliers. They allege that workers of the official water supplier sometimes sell water to them and occasionally fail to open the taps so they can benefit from private sales.

“We do not understand how it is possible that some areas in Matsulu get water twice a day, while here we suffer and it can take up to two weeks to receive water for 20-30 minutes. I moved to this area in 1990 and since then we have a problem with water supply. We do not understand why this matter is not being addressed,” said community member Nokuthula Mdluli.

Another resident, Sipho Msibi, said that some months they cannot afford to buy water and have to fetch it from other sections of Matsulu using a wheelbarrow.

“It’s exhausting to have to look around for areas that have water. You have to queue, which is very frustrating because the lines are so long,” said Msibi.

Richmond Jele, public relations manager of Silulumanzi, said the demand for water in Matsulu and other areas outside the Mbombela city limits far exceeds the capacity of the water treatment facilities and distribution networks.

“Currently, the water treatment plants in Matsulu supply 15ML per day, which is distributed across all parts of Matsulu to ensure each section receives its share. This is achieved by implementing a water distribution schedule through valve operation so that even high-lying areas receive water,” said Jele.

He explained that the original water supply in Matsulu B and part of Matsulu C was designed to RDP standards, with no house connections and only street taps. He added that many households now have direct connections from the main water line, often using inappropriate, low-quality materials that cannot handle high water pressure.
“This challenge is compounded by the rapid expansion of households due to illegal land occupation, which increases the stress on equitable water distribution,” he said.

When asked about Silulumanzi employees allegedly selling water to residents, Jele said staff are prohibited from owning or operating private water tankers.

“Should any employee be found breaking this rule, disciplinary action will be taken, which could include immediate dismissal if there is tangible evidence. We urge members of the public to report any wrongdoing and provide proof, not just hearsay,” he said.

Jele added that the main water treatment works were commissioned in the late 1960s. Silulumanzi has added a package plant to boost water supply while awaiting approval to upgrade the main works.

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“Business plans for the upgrade of the Matsulu water treatment and distribution facilities have been submitted and approved. The City of Mbombela (CoM) may provide updates on this, as the facilities are city-owned,” he added.

The newspaper contacted the CoM’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, who acknowledged receiving the enquiry. However, at the time of going to press, he has not responded.