Polokwane Muni on water crisis: We are taking steps
Polokwane Municipality says it will cooperate with the Public Protector after the DA lodged a complaint over the city's ongoing water crisis.
POLOKWANE – In response to the DA’s action to report the Polokwane Municipality to the Public Protector of South Africa for the local authority’s failure to provide sustainable and reliable water to the residents of the city, the municipality emphasised that it has already implemented several measures to address the ongoing water challenges.
Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala said that the municipality will cooperate fully with the Public Protector and will respond as and when information is requested.
Read more: DA files complaint against Polokwane Muni
He explained that Mayor John Mpe personally intervened by escalating the matter to the Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba as well as the Minister of Water and Sanitation, to secure urgent intervention.
Furthermore, the mayor has held several engagements with Lepelle Northern Water to find lasting solutions to the situation, Selala said and added that the municipality is not sitting idly by while residents suffer.
“Decisive steps are being taken to ensure accountability and to protect the interests of the people of Polokwane. In this regard, Lepelle Northern Water has been given 30 days to rectify the water supply challenges in Polokwane, failing which the municipality will have no choice but to pursue legal action to safeguard service delivery for our residents, businesses and institutions,” he said.
Read more: Polokwane Muni threatens legal action against LNW
The municipality, in its legislated capacity as Water Service Authority (WSA) as well as Water Service Provider (WSP), is responsible for the internal reticulation within the boundaries of the municipality, while Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) is responsible for the supply of bulk water and Polokwane is currently paying LNW approximately R33m per month for the bulk water.
The city is augmenting its consumption from boreholes and local waste water treatments plants, although there is still a deficit.
A matter of concern is that the Sand River North Project completion date of the project that is supposed to give an additional water to the city, has once again been extended.
The multi-million rand project was supposed to be commissioned in November 2025 and then in March 2026, but has now once again been extended to June this year.
