According to a statement by the DA nearly 30 000 residents of Sannieshof, Agisanang and Pelindaba in North West are without water due to 18 leaks on the bulk water supply pipeline of the Tswaing Local Municipality.

Despite an upgrade, adding 265 000 litres per hour, the reservoir supplying to consumers hardly reaches 10% of its capacity due to the leaks.

The dry, seasonal Harts River is currently flowing and farmers reported water reaching bridges 12 km downstream as a result of these leaks.

No maintenance and poor management of the financially crippled Tswaing and the lack of skilled technicians further hinders continuous water supply to communities.

“Businesses and residents suffer due to the water crisis and there is consequently no sanitation,” the DA said in a statement

According to the DA a diarrhoea outbreak in the area has been caused by schools and clinics not having water for sanitation purposes and this is causing .

Serious shortages of medication have allegedly been reported at the local clinic and hospital.  The pharmacy in town has also ran out of stock.

“To make matters worse, the Department of Labour closed down the Municipal Offices in Sannieshof declaring the building unsafe due to collapse of infrastructure. The offices were closed earlier this week. Service delivery came to a complete standstill.  Sewage removal trucks were recalled by the Ngaka Modiri Molema District due to financial incapacity several months ago. At a recent Council Meeting, we were denied an opportunity to debate against the tabling of the illegal Budget and IDP. The MFMA’s legally prescribed processes and procedures were not followed and specific documents were not tabled prior to the tabling of the Budget and IDP.  Despite being under Provincial Intervention, service delivery deteriorated to a level that has a negative impact on the quality of life in the area,” said the DA in a statement