POLOKWANE – Local residents have thrown their weight behind proposals to hold municipal managers and company directors of water service providers criminally and civilly liable for failing to deliver quality water services.

The views were shared during the second public hearing on the Water Services Amendment Bill, hosted by the portfolio committee on water and sanitation at Nirvana Community Hall last Saturday.

‘A necessary deterrent’

Residents argued that fines of up to R10 million, imprisonment of up to 10 years and personal liability for lost public funds, environmental clean-up and rehabilitation would provide a necessary deterrent against persistent service delivery failures.

They shared harrowing accounts of communities that have gone for years without reliable drinking water, persistent sewage spillages and dependence on unsafe alternative water sources.

Polokwane’s water concerns

The submissions come as concerns over Polokwane’s water supply have intensified, with residents raising public health concerns. In early 2026, a gastroenteritis outbreak was reported in Seshego, with dozens of people reporting chronic diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever. Some residents described their tap water as brownish and foul-smelling, prompting hospital visits and intensified public outcry.

Health department ruled out link

The Department of Health, however, previously ruled out a link between the reported illnesses and the water supply after confirming that 122 patients presented with gastroenteritis symptoms at Seshego Hospital in December 2025. Of these, 26 were admitted while 96 were treated and discharged.

Municipality identifies borehole problem

Meanwhile, the Polokwane Municipality confirmed that preliminary water quality testing had identified a problem at one of the boreholes supplying part of Seshego.

Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala said immediate remedial measures, including cleansing and continuous flushing of the system, had been implemented.

“We are currently processing the incident to establish the root cause and are implementing the necessary corrective actions to prevent a recurrence,” said Selala.

The municipality’s Seshego water treatment works, which was scheduled for launch on Friday, is expected to strengthen supply to Seshego and surrounding areas, with a capacity of 10 megalitres a day.

Support for separating authorities and providers

Residents at the hearing also welcomed the Bill’s proposal to separate the functions of Water Services Authorities and Water Service Providers, saying this would strengthen accountability.

They supported mandatory licensing, including provisions to suspend or revoke licences where providers persistently fail.

They, however, called for stronger measures to prevent service disruptions, proposing that emergency licences be issued within 48 hours to ensure communities are not left without water.

Concerns over traditional leadership and tankers

Concerns were also raised about the limited recognition of traditional leadership in water governance and continued reliance on water tankers, which residents said creates opportunities for corruption while weakening investment in sustainable infrastructure.

Acting committee chairperson Sello Dithebe said residents’ experiences demonstrated why stronger legislation was necessary.

“This is the very reason that this Bill is introduced, to ensure that people are recipients of quality service delivery,” said Dithebe.

The committee concluded its Limpopo hearings last Sunday in Bela-Bela.